Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 22.3 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Latvia, that number is 76 years (71 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Latvia, that number is 23.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 14.9 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $29,900 as of 2020.

be 74.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Latvia, that number is 6.1% as of 2019.

be 58.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.9% as of 2018.

pay a 15.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Latvia, the top tax rate is 23.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 97.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 638.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Latvia, 19.0 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 Latvia, it is 99.9% as of 2018.

be 95.4% 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 Latvia, on the other hand, 4.8 children do as of 2022.

have 75.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Latvia, there are 8.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 5.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Latvia, about 89.8% do as of 2022.

be 30.1% 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 Latvia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 50.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Latvia, that number is 6.6% of GDP as of 2019.

spend 31.2% more on education

Afghanistan spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Latvia spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department.

Latvia: At a glance

Latvia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 62,249 sq km. The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the eurozone in 2014.
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How big is Latvia compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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