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

Health

live 16.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In France, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 45.6% less likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In France, that number is 11.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 20.8 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). France spends $6,868 as of 2024.

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have 10.4 times more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. France has 32.8 as of 2022.

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have 2.1 times more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. France scores 85 as of 2021.

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be 4.6 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In France, it is 16.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 43.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In France, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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be 66.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 47.1% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In France, however, that number is 15.6% as of 2021.

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make 117.5 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in France, the GDP per capita is $48,986 as of 2025.

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Life

be 98.7% 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 France, 7.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 93.0% 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 France, on the other hand, 3.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 72.3% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In France, there are 9.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 17.2% more 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 France, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 5.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In France, about 88.7% do as of 2024.

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be 23.7% more 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 France, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 23.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In France, that number is 11.5% of GDP as of 2024.

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spend 83.4% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. France spends 5.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Safety

be 66.7% less likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In France, that number is 1.3 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 80.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In France, they kill 4.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 611.6 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. France has 48.9 as of 2024.

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live with 61.0% less strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. France withdraws 21% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 93.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In France, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 14.3 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. France emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this

France: At a glance

France is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 549,970 sq km. France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to take French forces out of NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper.
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