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

Health

live 12.8 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Namibia, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

be 116.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 11.6% of people as of 2020.

be 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Namibia, that number is 17.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.5 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Namibia, the GDP per capita is $9,800 as of 2022.

be 68.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Namibia, however, that number is 17.4% as of 2015.

be 41.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Namibia, that number is 20.0% as of 2022.

pay a 85.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Namibia, the top tax rate is 37.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 65.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Namibia, 215.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.5 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Namibia, it is 92.3% as of 2021.

be 72.0% 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 Namibia, on the other hand, 29.4 children do as of 2022.

have 28.9% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Namibia, there are 24.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Namibia, about 53.0% do as of 2021.

be 19.5% 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 Namibia, that number is 91% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 83% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 43.5% less likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 98% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Namibia, that number is 55% of people on average (75% in urban areas, and 33% in rural areas) as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 42.6% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 8.9% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 3.3 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Namibia spends 9.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Inland Revenue Department.

Namibia: At a glance

Namibia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 823,290 sq km. South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.
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How big is Namibia compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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