Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Marshall Islands instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 21.0 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Marshall Islands, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 9.6 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Marshall Islands, that number is 52.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 4.0 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Marshall Islands, the GDP per capita is $6,000 as of 2022.

be 86.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Marshall Islands, however, that number is 7.2% as of 2019.

be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Marshall Islands, that number is 36.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Marshall Islands, it is 98.3% as of 2011.

be 79.3% 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 Marshall Islands, on the other hand, 21.7 children do as of 2022.

have 38.0% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Marshall Islands, there are 21.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Marshall Islands, about 38.7% do as of 2021.

be 30.7% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Marshall Islands, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 16.1% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Marshall Islands, that number is 13.0% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 4.7 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Marshall Islands spends 13.6% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Marshall Islands: At a glance

Marshall Islands (sometimes abbreviated RMI) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 181 sq km. After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.
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How big is Marshall Islands compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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