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Afghanistan vs Palestine
Side-by-side comparison of Afghanistan and Palestine 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
Palestine
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 38 years
In short
Palestine scores 32.5 in the NationsTree Index (156th in the world) and Afghanistan scores 21.5 (185th), a gap of 11.0 points. Their trees are 5.0 m and 2.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Afghanistan has 8.1 times the population of Palestine. Afghanistan is 108 times larger than Palestine by land area. Afghanistan has an economy 3.5 times the size of Palestine (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Afghanistan 43.8 million and Palestine 5.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $5,000 in Palestine and $2,236 in Afghanistan (2025, international dollars). People in Palestine live on average 2.9 years longer (69.2 vs 66.3 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Afghanistan ranks higher in the world on 4 and Palestine on 25. Afghanistan is clearly stronger in military, natural resources and economy. Palestine is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, society & health and science & innovation.
As a nation, Afghanistan is the older of the two (statehood since 1747, 279 years), compared with Palestine (since 1988). Over the last five years Afghanistan improved faster (direction score 36 vs 1 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Afghanistan and Palestine.
Afghanistanbetter
-6.6%
1st of 180
Palestine
9.8%
159th of 180
Adult literacySociety & health
Afghanistan
37.3%
96th of 98
Palestinebetter
97.9%
20th of 98
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Afghanistan
87.8%
166th of 215
Palestinebetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Afghanistan
16.1%
181st of 186
Palestinebetter
86.6%
76th of 186
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Afghanistan
4.0
89th of 145
Palestinebetter
0.6
18th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Palestine overtook Afghanistan in life expectancy in 2024, the latest year with data.
Palestine has been ahead of Afghanistan in the NationsTree Index and GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 2000.
Afghanistan has been ahead of Palestine in GDP (PPP) in every year since 2000.
Afghanistan has been ahead of Palestine 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
AfghanistanPalestine 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 | Palestine |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 652,87040th/216 · 2024 | 6,025167th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 652,23040th/216 · 2024 | 6,025166th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 43.8 m36th/217 · 2025 | 5.4 m123rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.77%20th/217 · 2025 | 2.33%33rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 65.4140th/216 · 2024 | 877.912th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 25.9%204th/217 · 2025 | 87.4%43rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 42.6%11th/217 · 2025 | 37.6%37th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%210th/217 · 2025 | 3.9%170th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $17.78 bn138th/210 · 2024 | $17.17 bn140th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $95.37 bn104th/199 · 2024 | $27.07 bn151st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $83.78 bn103rd/199 · 2024 | $23.13 bn151st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $417209th/210 · 2024 | $3,171158th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $2,236189th/199 · 2024 | $5,000165th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $390200th/201 · 2024 | $3,250149th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.9%149th/210 · 2024 | 4.3%71st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -6.6%1st/180 · 2024 | 9.8%159th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 13.4%167th/187 · 2025 | 24.4%183rd/187 · 2022 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 7.6%6th/189 · 2025 | — |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.5%48th/192 · 2025 | — |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 34.3%6th/197 · 2024 | 5.5%104th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 14.5%163rd/200 · 2024 | 16.3%156th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 8.4%117th/192 · 2024 | 11.3%83rd/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.2%169th/200 · 2024 | 60.2%81st/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.79 bn146th/182 · 2024 | $3.64 bn141st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $12.10 bn116th/182 · 2024 | $9.19 bn122nd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.7%159th/183 · 2024 | 21.2%143rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 68.1%39th/183 · 2024 | 53.5%70th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 83.8%87th/183 · 2024 | 74.8%107th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 8.1%2019 | 0.1%135th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 4.8%2019 | 63.3%52nd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 63.9%2019 | 21.4%71st/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.2%2019 | 14.4%34th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%2019 | 1.8%133rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -37.9%189th/191 · 2025 | — |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.1%170th/196 · 2021 | 1.9%104th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.4%136th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.02%98th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/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 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 12.0%86th/206 · 2024 | 7.0%121st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,162122nd/183 · 2022 | 165167th/183 · 2021 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | — | 93,000165th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $75.0 m147th/175 · 2020 | $245.0 m113th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.1%85th/168 · 2020 | 9.4%59th/168 · 2018 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.3184th/217 · 2024 | 69.2160th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 53.0171st/196 · 2024 | 37.9152nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.32133rd/174 · 2023 | 2.172018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.4141st/145 · 2023 | 1.3107th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 59%186th/193 · 2024 | 88%117th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 15.3%146th/153 · 2022 | 69.5%83rd/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 59.6%147th/173 · 2023 | 89.1%108th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 8.8%2011 | 24.4%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.4%209th/217 · 2025 | 6.6%166th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 15.0%4th/193 · 2023 | 10.7%21st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 37.3%96th/98 · 2021 | 97.9%20th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.9%2020 | 44.5%88th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.496181st/193 · 2023 | 0.674133rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | — | 36.470th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | — | 2.1%59th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 87.8%166th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 30.6%127th/150 · 2024 | 80.6%75th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 24.8%119th/144 · 2024 | 73.5%62nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 16.1%181st/186 · 2024 | 86.6%76th/186 · 2023 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 60194th/210 · 2024 | 77169th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.1197th/208 · 2023 | 8.2125th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.70163rd/164 · 2022 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.0 m98th/161 · 2023 | — |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.2828th/203 · 2024 | — |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 20.0%107th/212 · 2022 | 15.4%120th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 37.9175th/200 · 2023 | 22.4131st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.9%189th/214 · 2024 | 1.8%190th/214 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 12.0203rd/205 · 2025 | 25.4189th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 21.7188th/207 · 2025 | 36.3141st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 28.1202nd/207 · 2025 | 42.8163rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 29.8200th/207 · 2025 | 32.1198th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 30.8191st/205 · 2025 | 48.5127th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 17.7204th/205 · 2025 | 35.9163rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.089th/145 · 2021 | 0.618th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $278.3 m117th/156 · 2021 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.8%76th/156 · 2021 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.0%2020 | — |
| 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 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m1992 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.45%2013 |
| Scientific articles articles | 169130th/197 · 2023 | 86288th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Afghanistan or Palestine?
Afghanistan has the larger population: 43.8 m (2025) compared with 5.4 m for Palestine (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Afghanistan or Palestine?
Afghanistan is larger: 652,870 km² (2024) compared with 6,025 km² for Palestine (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Afghanistan or Palestine?
Afghanistan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $95.37 bn intl. (2024) compared with $27.07 bn intl. for Palestine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Afghanistan or Palestine?
Palestine has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $5,000 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 Palestine?
Palestine has the higher life expectancy at birth: 69.2 years (2024) compared with 66.3 years for Afghanistan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Afghanistan or Palestine?
Palestine: 32.5 points (156th 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
Libya
Malta
SyriaSources
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 Palestine — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/afghanistan-vs-palestine. Data as of 26 October 2026.