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

Health

live 24.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Paraguay, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.7 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Paraguay, that number is 20.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 7.8 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Paraguay, the GDP per capita is $15,700 as of 2023.

be 59.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Paraguay, that number is 5.8% as of 2023.

be 54.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Paraguay, however, that number is 24.7% as of 2022.

Life

be 88.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Paraguay, 71.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.5 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Paraguay, it is 94.5% as of 2020.

be 77.9% 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 Paraguay, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2022.

have 53.5% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Paraguay, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 17.2% more 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 Paraguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Paraguay, about 77.0% 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 Paraguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 51.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Paraguay, that number is 7.6% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 13.8% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Paraguay spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2020.


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

Paraguay: At a glance

Paraguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 397,302 sq km. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
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How big is Paraguay compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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