Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Afghanistan, you would:
Health
live 26.0 years longer
In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.
be 4.7 times more likely to be obese
In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Costa Rica, that number is 25.7% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 9.8 times more money
Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,700 as of 2020.
be 66.1% less likely to be unemployed
In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Costa Rica, that number is 8.1% as of 2017.
be 61.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 21.0% as of 2019.
pay a 25.0% lower top tax rate
Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Costa Rica, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 95.8% less likely to die during childbirth
In Afghanistan, approximately 638.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Costa Rica, 27.0 women do as of 2017.
be 2.6 times more likely to be literate
In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 97.9% as of 2018.
be 92.0% 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 Costa Rica, on the other hand, 8.4 children do as of 2022.
have 59.7% fewer children
In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Costa Rica, there are 14.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 4.5 times more likely to have internet access
In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Costa Rica, about 81.0% do as of 2020.
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 Costa Rica, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 44.7% less on healthcare
Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Costa Rica, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2019.
spend 2.1 times more on education
Afghanistan spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Costa Rica spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica: At a glance
How big is Costa Rica compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.