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Afghanistan vs Libya
Side-by-side comparison of Afghanistan and Libya from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Afghanistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 279 years
Libya
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 475 years
In short
Libya scores 36.8 in the NationsTree Index (140th in the world) and Afghanistan scores 21.5 (185th), a gap of 15.2 points. Their trees are 5.0 m and 6.1 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Afghanistan has 5.9 times the population of Libya. Libya is 2.7 times larger than Afghanistan by land area. The economy of Libya is 29% larger than that of Afghanistan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Afghanistan 43.8 million and Libya 7.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $16,521 in Libya and $2,236 in Afghanistan (2025, international dollars). People in Libya live on average 4.8 years longer (71.1 vs 66.3 years).
Of 27 indicators reported by both countries, Afghanistan ranks higher in the world on 11 and Libya on 16. Afghanistan is clearly stronger in military and environment & energy. Libya is clearly stronger in trade, society & health and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, Libya is the older of the two (statehood since 1551, 475 years), compared with Afghanistan (since 1747). Over the last five years Libya improved faster (direction score 52 vs 36 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Afghanistan and Libya.
Afghanistanbetter
7.6%
6th of 189
Libya
153.8%
186th of 189
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Afghanistanbetter
0.28
28th of 203
Libya
8.66
180th of 203
Government budget balanceEconomy
Afghanistanbetter
-0.5%
48th of 192
Libya
-30.5%
191st of 192
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Afghanistan
0.4
141st of 145
Libyabetter
3.5
48th of 145
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
Afghanistan
53.0
171st of 196
Libyabetter
9.8
74th of 196
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Libya overtook Afghanistan in GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Libya has been ahead of Afghanistan in the NationsTree Index and GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 2000.
Libya has been ahead of Afghanistan in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Afghanistan has been ahead of Libya in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
AfghanistanLibya All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Afghanistan | Libya |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 652,87040th/216 · 2024 | 1,759,54016th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 652,23040th/216 · 2024 | 1,759,54016th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 43.8 m36th/217 · 2025 | 7.5 m105th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.77%20th/217 · 2025 | 1.04%98th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 65.4140th/216 · 2024 | 4.2209th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 25.9%204th/217 · 2025 | 87.9%40th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 42.6%11th/217 · 2025 | 26.8%85th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%210th/217 · 2025 | 5.2%146th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $17.78 bn138th/210 · 2024 | $48.10 bn101st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $95.37 bn104th/199 · 2024 | $123.23 bn95th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $83.78 bn103rd/199 · 2024 | $105.30 bn94th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $417209th/210 · 2024 | $6,449128th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $2,236189th/199 · 2024 | $16,521117th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $390200th/201 · 2024 | $7,250110th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.9%149th/210 · 2024 | 13.4%3rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -6.6%1st/180 · 2024 | 1.8%55th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 13.4%167th/187 · 2025 | 18.8%178th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 7.6%6th/189 · 2025 | 153.8%186th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.5%48th/192 · 2025 | -30.5%191st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 34.3%6th/197 · 2024 | 1.5%158th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 14.5%163rd/200 · 2024 | 73.2%2nd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 8.4%117th/192 · 2024 | 2.8%2017 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.2%169th/200 · 2024 | 26.9%199th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.79 bn146th/182 · 2024 | $34.49 bn78th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $12.10 bn116th/182 · 2024 | $31.72 bn81st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.7%159th/183 · 2024 | 71.7%25th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 68.1%39th/183 · 2024 | 65.9%43rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 83.8%87th/183 · 2024 | 137.7%29th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 8.1%2019 | 94.4%2019 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 4.8%2019 | 0.6%2019 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 63.9%2019 | 0.1%2019 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.2%2019 | 0.7%2019 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%2019 | 0.6%2019 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -37.9%189th/191 · 2025 | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.1%170th/196 · 2021 | 1.7%115th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.4%136th/209 · 2021 | 61.0%1st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.02%98th/197 · 2021 | 56.38%1st/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/197 · 2021 | 4.58%15th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.02%44th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.39%75th/209 · 2021 | 0.08%119th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 12.0%86th/206 · 2024 | 1.0%182nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,162122nd/183 · 2022 | 97170th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | — | 760,0002008 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $75.0 m147th/175 · 2020 | $170.0 m2010 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.1%85th/168 · 2020 | 0.3%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 650,0001997 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.3184th/217 · 2024 | 71.1147th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 53.0171st/196 · 2024 | 9.874th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.32133rd/174 · 2023 | 2.042017 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.4141st/145 · 2023 | 3.548th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 59%186th/193 · 2024 | 86%125th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 15.3%146th/153 · 2022 | — |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 59.6%147th/173 · 2023 | 97.6%2006 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 8.8%2011 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.4%209th/217 · 2025 | 7.6%147th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 15.0%4th/193 · 2023 | 7.8%66th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 37.3%96th/98 · 2021 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.9%2020 | 58.5%2003 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.496181st/193 · 2023 | 0.721115th/193 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 87.8%166th/215 · 2024 | 77.4%173rd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 30.6%127th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 24.8%119th/144 · 2024 | 21.7%125th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 16.1%181st/186 · 2024 | 82.0%97th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 60194th/210 · 2024 | 1938th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.1197th/208 · 2023 | 4.5144th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.70163rd/164 · 2022 | 1.70163rd/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.0 m98th/161 · 2023 | 1.1 m95th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.2828th/203 · 2024 | 8.66180th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 20.0%107th/212 · 2022 | 3.1%173rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 37.9175th/200 · 2023 | 20.0116th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.9%189th/214 · 2024 | 0.1%207th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 3,32228th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 12.0203rd/205 · 2025 | 21.9194th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 21.7188th/207 · 2025 | 17.2197th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 28.1202nd/207 · 2025 | 31.5196th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 29.8200th/207 · 2025 | 33.4195th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 30.8191st/205 · 2025 | 26.9197th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 17.7204th/205 · 2025 | 31.3177th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.089th/145 · 2021 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $278.3 m117th/156 · 2021 | $1.57 bn71st/156 · 2023 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.8%76th/156 · 2021 | 3.6%17th/156 · 2023 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.0%2020 | 5.5%72nd/154 · 2023 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 165,00037th/170 · 2020 | 0166th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.82%32nd/168 · 2020 | 0.00%166th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 65.0 m57th/163 · 2021 | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m1992 | 02016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 121996 |
| Scientific articles articles | 169130th/197 · 2023 | 443105th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Afghanistan or Libya?
Afghanistan has the larger population: 43.8 m (2025) compared with 7.5 m for Libya (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya is larger: 1,759,540 km² (2024) compared with 652,870 km² for Afghanistan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $123.23 bn intl. (2025) compared with $95.37 bn intl. for Afghanistan (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $16,521 intl. (2025) compared with $2,236 intl. for Afghanistan (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya has the higher life expectancy at birth: 71.1 years (2024) compared with 66.3 years for Afghanistan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya spends more on the military: $1.57 bn (2023) compared with $278.3 m for Afghanistan (2021). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Afghanistan or Libya?
Libya: 36.8 points (140th in the world); Afghanistan: 21.5 points (185th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahrain
Djibouti
Lebanon
Malta
Palestine
Syria
Jordan
TunisiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Afghanistan vs Libya — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/afghanistan-vs-libya. Data as of 26 October 2026.