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

Health

live 6.2 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Uzbekistan, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 2.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uzbekistan spends $749 as of 2023.

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have 8.8 times more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Uzbekistan has 28.1 as of 2021.

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have 82.9% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uzbekistan scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 51.8% more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uzbekistan, that number is 31.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uzbekistan, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 65.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uzbekistan, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

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make 9.5 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Uzbekistan, the GDP per capita is $3,968 as of 2025.

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Life

be 95.0% 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 Uzbekistan, 26.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Uzbekistan, it is 100.0% as of 2022.

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be 73.5% 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 Uzbekistan, on the other hand, 12.8 children do as of 2024.

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have 27.0% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uzbekistan, there are 25.6 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 Uzbekistan, 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 5.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uzbekistan, about 89.5% do as of 2024.

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be 20.4% 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 Uzbekistan, that number is 97% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 55.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Uzbekistan, that number is 6.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 88.6% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Uzbekistan spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 65.3% less likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uzbekistan, that number is 1.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 61.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Uzbekistan, they kill 9.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 434.3 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Uzbekistan has 34.7 as of 2024.

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live with 2.2 times more strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uzbekistan withdraws 123% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 18.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uzbekistan, it causes 117.0 as of 2019.

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emit 14.6 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uzbekistan emits 4.1 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

Uzbekistan: At a glance

Uzbekistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 425,400 sq km. Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country has lessened its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base. However, longserving septuagenarian President Islom KARIMOV, who rose through the ranks of the Soviet-era State Planning Committee (Gosplan), remains wedded to the concepts of a command economy, creating a challenging environment for foreign investment. Current concerns include post-KARIMOV succession, terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
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How big is Uzbekistan compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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