Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 15.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Tajikistan, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.6 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Tajikistan, that number is 14.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.7 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Tajikistan, the GDP per capita is $4,100 as of 2022.

be 50.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Tajikistan, that number is 7.0% as of 2022.

be 58.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Tajikistan, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

pay a 35.0% lower top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Tajikistan, the top tax rate is 13.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 97.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Tajikistan, 17.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Tajikistan, it is 99.8% as of 2015.

be 69.2% 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 Tajikistan, on the other hand, 32.3 children do as of 2022.

have 24.6% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tajikistan, there are 25.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 68.9% more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Tajikistan, about 30.4% do as of 2022.

be 10.3% 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 Tajikistan, that number is 84% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 47.1% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Tajikistan, that number is 8.2% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 2.0 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Tajikistan spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: National Center of Legislation under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department.

Tajikistan: At a glance

Tajikistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 141,510 sq km. The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bands of indigenous guerrillas (called "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic in 1929 and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992 to 1997. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistanis working in Russia, pervasive corruption, and the major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.
Read more

How big is Tajikistan compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Tajikistan.or Afghanistan It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.