Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 28.0 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 22.9 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $34,300 as of 2022.

be 57.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2022.

pay a 65.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Puerto Rico, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 94.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 34.0 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 Puerto Rico, it is 92.4% as of 2021.

be 94.2% 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 Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.

have 77.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 7.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

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 Puerto Rico, about 77.7% 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 as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 24.1% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Puerto Rico spends 3.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Puerto Rican Department of Treasury.

Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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How big is Puerto Rico compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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