Moving to Afghanistan from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Afghanistan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Japan to Afghanistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Afghanistan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Japan and Afghanistan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
AF
4.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
AF
24.1

Japan performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
AF
$330
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
AF
2.5

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Afghanistan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
AF
143.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
AF
0.3t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Afghanistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
AF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
AF
54.8%

Japan performs better than Afghanistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
AF
14.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
AF
$2,000

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Afghanistan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
AF
53.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
AF
104.9

Japan performs better than Afghanistan across all family life metrics.

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Kabul
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 88°/56°F (31°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Kabul
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Afghanistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Afghanistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Afghanistan's immigration authority.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Afghanistan

Visa Required
Japan passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan.
Afghanistan passport

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Afghanistan passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Afghanistan?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Afghanistan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and Afghanistan.

Is Afghanistan safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Afghanistan is 4.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Afghanistan compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Afghanistan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Afghanistan, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Afghanistan scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What's the weather like in Afghanistan compared to Japan?

The average high temperature in Kabul is 67°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Kabul receives around 12.3 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Afghanistan?

The official languages in Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

Share this

At a Glance

JP AF
Population 124,214,766 38,346,720
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Afghan Afghani (AFN)
Languages Japanese Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +93
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110