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

Health

live 10.3 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 5.5 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 9.3 times more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 80.5% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 30.4% more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 60.6% more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 25.2 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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Life

be 99.4% 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 Macedonia, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 98.4% as of 2020.

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be 94.8% 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 Macedonia, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 74.9% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Macedonia, there are 8.8 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 Macedonia, 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 5.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Macedonia, about 93.1% do as of 2025.

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be 21.5% 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 Macedonia, that number is 98% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 50.4% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 7.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 62.0% less likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, that number is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 76.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 373.6 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 56.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 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. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
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