Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 22.5 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Malaysia, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Malaysia, that number is 15.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 13.2 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $26,400 as of 2020.

be 86.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Malaysia, that number is 3.3% as of 2019.

be 89.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Malaysia, however, that number is 5.6% as of 2018.

pay a 40.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Malaysia, the top tax rate is 28.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 95.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 638.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Malaysia, 29.0 women do as of 2017.

be 2.5 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 95.0% as of 2019.

be 93.7% 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 Malaysia, on the other hand, 6.6 children do as of 2022.

have 59.0% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Malaysia, there are 14.6 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 Malaysia, about 90.0% do as of 2020.

be 27.5% 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 Malaysia, that number is 98% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 71.2% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Malaysia, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2019.

spend 31.2% more on education

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

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia.

Malaysia: At a glance

Malaysia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 328,657 sq km. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's withdrawal in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies and has introduced some civil reforms.
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How big is Malaysia compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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