Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 28.3 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.1 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 27.1 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $54,100 as of 2023.

be 71.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.1% as of 2023.

be 65.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In United Kingdom, however, that number is 18.6% as of 2017.

pay a 2.2 times higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In United Kingdom, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 98.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 96.4% 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 United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 68.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 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 the population has electricity access as of 2022. In United Kingdom, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 5.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In United Kingdom, about 97.0% 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 United Kingdom, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 22.6% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 12.0% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 89.7% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. United Kingdom spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, HM Revenue & Customs.

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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