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

Health

live 4.4 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Solomon Islands, that number is 71 years (69 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 14.6% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Solomon Islands scores 47 as of 2021.

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see 53.5% less spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Solomon Islands spends $153 as of 2023.

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have 24.9% fewer doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Solomon Islands has 2.4 as of 2023.

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be 5.4 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Solomon Islands, it is 19.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 89.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Solomon Islands, that number is 1.4% as of 2025.

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make 5.0 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Solomon Islands, the GDP per capita is $2,086 as of 2025.

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Life

be 76.4% 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 Solomon Islands, 123.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 66.0% 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 Solomon Islands, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 23.7% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Solomon Islands, there are 26.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 80.5% more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Solomon Islands, about 29.0% do as of 2024.

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be 11.4% less 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 Solomon Islands, that number is 72% of people on average (91% in urban areas, and 65% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 64.2% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Solomon Islands, that number is 5.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 2.9 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Solomon Islands spends 8.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 53.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Solomon Islands, they kill 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 37.5% more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Solomon Islands has 0.1 as of 2022.

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Environment

be 60.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Solomon Islands, it causes 57.0 as of 2019.

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emit 35.7% more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Solomon Islands emits 0.4 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Solomon Islands: At a glance

Solomon Islands is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 27,986 sq km. The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
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How big is Solomon Islands compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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