If you lived in El Salvador instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 21.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In El Salvador, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.5 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In El Salvador, that number is 24.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 4.0 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in El Salvador, the GDP per capita is $8,100 as of 2020.

be 70.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In El Salvador, that number is 7.0% as of 2017.

be 58.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In El Salvador, however, that number is 22.8% as of 2019.

pay a 50.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In El Salvador, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 92.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 638.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In El Salvador, 46.0 women do as of 2017.

be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In El Salvador, it is 89.1% as of 2019.

be 88.4% 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 El Salvador, on the other hand, 12.1 children do as of 2022.

have 49.6% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In El Salvador, there are 17.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 3.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In El Salvador, about 55.0% do as of 2020.

be 28.4% 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 El Salvador, that number is 98% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 45.5% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In El Salvador, that number is 7.2% of GDP as of 2019.


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

El Salvador: At a glance

El Salvador is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 20,721 sq km. El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
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How big is El Salvador compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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