Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lesotho instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 5.9 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Lesotho, that number is 60 years (58 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022.

be 211.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Lesotho, that number is 21.1% of people as of 2020.

be 3.0 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lesotho, that number is 16.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 25.0% more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Lesotho, the GDP per capita is $2,500 as of 2023.

be 14.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lesotho, that number is 16.5% as of 2023.

pay a 50.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Lesotho, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 2.2 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Lesotho, it is 81.0% as of 2021.

be 53.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Afghanistan, approximately 104.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Lesotho, on the other hand, 48.4 children do as of 2022.

have 33.0% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lesotho, there are 22.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Lesotho, about 48.0% do as of 2021.

be 41.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Lesotho, that number is 50% of people on average (81% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 23.9% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lesotho, that number is 11.8% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 3.0 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lesotho spends 8.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Ministry of Finance.

Lesotho: At a glance

Lesotho is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 30,355 sq km. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties disputed how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly. In May 2012, competitive elections involving 18 parties saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government - the first in the country's history - that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month.
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How big is Lesotho compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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