Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Virgin Islands instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 26.6 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 23.1 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Virgin Islands, the GDP per capita is $46,200 as of 2021.

be 16.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Virgin Islands, that number is 12.1% as of 2023.

be 47.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Virgin Islands, however, that number is 28.9% as of 2002.

Life

be 92.7% 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 Virgin Islands, on the other hand, 7.7 children do as of 2022.

have 67.5% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Virgin Islands, there are 11.1 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 Virgin Islands, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 3.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Virgin Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2022.

be 29.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Virgin Islands, 99% of people do as of 2020.

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

Virgin Islands: At a glance

Virgin Islands (sometimes abbreviated USVI) is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 346 sq km. The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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