Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 21.9 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Vietnam, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 61.8% less likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Vietnam, that number is 2.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.8 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Vietnam, the GDP per capita is $13,700 as of 2023.

be 88.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Vietnam, that number is 1.6% as of 2023.

be 91.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Vietnam, however, that number is 4.8% as of 2020.

pay a 75.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Vietnam, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 80.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Vietnam, 124.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Vietnam, it is 95.8% as of 2019.

be 85.9% 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 Vietnam, on the other hand, 14.8 children do as of 2022.

have 56.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Vietnam, there are 14.9 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 Vietnam, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Vietnam, about 74.0% do as of 2021.

be 26.7% 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 Vietnam, that number is 97% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 69.7% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Vietnam, that number is 4.7% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 41.4% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Vietnam spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance.

Vietnam: At a glance

Vietnam (sometimes abbreviated SRV) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 310,070 sq km. The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups - the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space, and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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