Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 27.9 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Portugal, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.8 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Portugal, that number is 20.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 23.9 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Portugal, the GDP per capita is $35,800 as of 2022.

be 57.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Portugal, that number is 6.0% as of 2022.

be 69.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Portugal, however, that number is 16.4% as of 2021.

pay a 2.8 times higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Portugal, the top tax rate is 56.5% as of 2016.

Life

be 98.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Portugal, 12.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Portugal, it is 95.9% as of 2021.

be 97.6% 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 Portugal, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2022.

have 76.3% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Portugal, there are 8.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 4.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Portugal, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.6% 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 Portugal, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 31.6% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Portugal, that number is 10.6% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 72.4% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Portugal spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira.

Portugal: At a glance

Portugal is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 91,470 sq km. Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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How big is Portugal compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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