Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Ethiopia instead of Afghanistan, you would:
Health
live 1.3 years longer
In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Ethiopia, that number is 68 years (64 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.
be 85.8% less likely to be obese
In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Ethiopia, that number is 2.9% of people as of 2024.
see 74.0% less spent on your healthcare
Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Ethiopia spends $86 as of 2023.
have 54.9% fewer doctors per person
Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Ethiopia has 1.4 as of 2023.
have 14.6% less access to essential health services
Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Ethiopia scores 35 as of 2021.
be 68.6% more likely to die by suicide
Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Ethiopia, it is 6.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 75.1% less likely to be unemployed
In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Ethiopia, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.
be 29.7% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Afghanistan, 47.1% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Ethiopia, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2021.
make 2.2 times more money
Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Ethiopia, the GDP per capita is $933 as of 2025.
Life
be 62.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Afghanistan, approximately 521.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Ethiopia, 195.0 women do as of 2023.
be 62.2% more likely to be literate
In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Ethiopia, it is 60.5% as of 2022.
be 28.6% less likely to die during infancy
In Afghanistan, approximately 48.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Ethiopia, on the other hand, 34.5 children do as of 2024.
have 10.1% fewer children
In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Ethiopia, there are 31.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 36.4% more likely to have internet access
In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Ethiopia, about 21.9% do as of 2024.
be 35.1% less likely to have access to electricity
In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Ethiopia, that number is 55% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 31.2% less likely to have access to drinking water
In Afghanistan, approximately 81% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Ethiopia, that number is 56% of people on average (83% in urban areas, and 47% in rural areas) as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 81.3% less on healthcare
Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Ethiopia, that number is 2.8% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 26.6% less likely to die in a road accident
In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Ethiopia, they kill 17.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 7.4 times more home broadband
Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Ethiopia has 0.6 as of 2024.
live with 41.1% less strain on fresh water
Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Ethiopia withdraws 32% as of 2022.
Environment
be 67.8% less likely to die from air pollution
In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Ethiopia, it causes 46.0 as of 2019.
emit 46.4% less CO2
Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Ethiopia emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Afghanistan vs. Ethiopia
Ethiopia: At a glance
How big is Ethiopia compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.