Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Marshall Islands instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 21.0 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Marshall Islands, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 9.6 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Marshall Islands, that number is 52.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 100.0% more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2020, while in Marshall Islands, the GDP per capita is $4,000 as of 2019.

be 50.6% more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 23.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Marshall Islands, that number is 36.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Marshall Islands, it is 98.3% as of 2011.

be 79.3% 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 Marshall Islands, on the other hand, 21.7 children do as of 2022.

have 35.7% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Marshall Islands, there are 22.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 2.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Marshall Islands, about 39.0% do as of 2019.

be 30.7% 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 Marshall Islands, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 3.0 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Marshall Islands spends 9.6% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 23.5% more on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 13.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Marshall Islands, that number is 16.3% of GDP as of 2019.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Marshall Islands: At a glance

Marshall Islands (sometimes abbreviated RMI) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 181 sq km. After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.
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How big is Marshall Islands compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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