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

Health

live 21.5 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Vanuatu, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.6 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Vanuatu, that number is 25.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 50.0% more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Vanuatu, the GDP per capita is $3,000 as of 2023.

be 64.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Vanuatu, that number is 5.1% as of 2023.

be 70.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Vanuatu, however, that number is 15.9% as of 2020.

Life

be 84.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Vanuatu, 94.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Vanuatu, it is 89.1% as of 2021.

be 86.3% 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 Vanuatu, on the other hand, 14.3 children do as of 2022.

have 39.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Vanuatu, there are 20.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 3.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Vanuatu, about 66.0% do as of 2021.

be 20.7% 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 Vanuatu, that number is 92% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 17.9% less 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 Vanuatu, that number is 70% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 61% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 20.7% less on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Vanuatu spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 74.2% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Vanuatu, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2020.


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

Vanuatu: At a glance

Vanuatu is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 12,189 sq km. Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
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How big is Vanuatu compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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