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

Health

live 4.0 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Guyana spends $1,331 as of 2023.

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have 4.4 times more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Guyana has 13.9 as of 2020.

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have 85.4% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guyana scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 16.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 1.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 46.5% more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 30.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 6.9 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 10.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.0% as of 2025.

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make 77.8 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $32,414 as of 2025.

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Life

be 85.6% 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 Guyana, 75.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

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be 52.0% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 43.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 19.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 15.9% 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 Guyana, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 5.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Guyana, about 83.0% do as of 2024.

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be 18.3% 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 Guyana, that number is 96% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 83.5% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 53.4% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

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Safety

be 36.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Guyana, they kill 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 4.7 times more likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, that number is 19.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 161.8 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Guyana has 12.9 as of 2022.

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live with 94.0% less strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guyana withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 63.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Guyana, it causes 52.0 as of 2019.

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emit 16.3 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guyana emits 4.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2020–2021). How we calculate this

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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