Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 26.1 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Cyprus, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.0 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Cyprus, that number is 21.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 18.9 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in Cyprus, the GDP per capita is $37,700 as of 2020.

be 70.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Cyprus, that number is 7.1% as of 2019.

be 73.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Cyprus, however, that number is 14.7% as of 2018.

pay a 75.0% higher top tax rate

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

Life

be 99.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 638.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Cyprus, 6.0 women do as of 2017.

be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Cyprus, it is 99.1% as of 2015.

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 Cyprus, on the other hand, 8.4 children do as of 2022.

have 70.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Cyprus, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 5.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Cyprus, about 91.0% do as of 2020.

be 30.5% 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 Cyprus, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 47.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Cyprus, that number is 7.0% of GDP as of 2019.

spend 81.2% more on education

Afghanistan spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Cyprus spends 5.8% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Inland Revenue Department of the Republic of Cyprus, The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department.

Cyprus: At a glance

Cyprus is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 9,241 sq km. A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The talks are ongoing. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.
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How big is Cyprus compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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