Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 17.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Mongolia, that number is 71 years (67 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.7 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Mongolia, that number is 20.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 8.1 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Mongolia, the GDP per capita is $12,100 as of 2022.

be 56.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Mongolia, that number is 6.2% as of 2022.

be 49.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Mongolia, however, that number is 27.8% as of 2020.

pay a 50.0% lower top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Mongolia, the top tax rate is 10.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 93.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Mongolia, 39.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Mongolia, it is 99.2% as of 2020.

be 80.8% 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 Mongolia, on the other hand, 20.2 children do as of 2022.

have 56.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mongolia, there are 14.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Mongolia, about 84.0% do as of 2021.

be 14.5% 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 Mongolia, that number is 88% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 64% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 68.4% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Mongolia, that number is 4.9% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 62.1% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Mongolia spends 4.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, General Department of National Taxation.

Mongolia: At a glance

Mongolia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 1,553,556 sq km. The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party that lasted until January 2012. In 2009, current President ELBEGDORJ of the Democratic Party was elected to office and was re-elected for his second term in June 2013. In 2010, the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. Shortly thereafter, a new party was formed by former president ENKHBAYAR, which adopted the MPRP name. In the 2012 Parliamentary elections, a coalition of four political parties led by the Democratic Party, gained control of the Parliament.
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