Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 3.07 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.07
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
219th
of 236 countries
All-time high
8.71
in 1985
All-time low
1.29
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 3.07 for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in 2023.
The figure is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan peaked at 8.71 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1.29, in 1950.
Afghanistan ranks 219th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.29 | — |
| 1951 | 1.3 | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 1.32 | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 1.34 | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 1.32 | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 1.41 | +7.3% |
| 1956 | 1.42 | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 1.41 | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 1.4 | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 1.41 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 1.41 | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 1.42 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 1.4 | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 1.4 | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 1.42 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 1.46 | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 1.5 | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 1.53 | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 1.46 | -4.6% |
| 1969 | 1.47 | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 1.51 | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 1.55 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 1.57 | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 1.57 | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 1.56 | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 1.55 | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 1.55 | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 1.52 | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 2.62 | +73.0% |
| 1979 | 3.79 | +44.5% |
| 1980 | 3.95 | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 4.26 | +7.9% |
| 1982 | 6.27 | +47.0% |
| 1983 | 6.49 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 8.6 | +32.4% |
| 1985 | 8.71 | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 6.8 | -21.9% |
| 1987 | 7 | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 5.22 | -25.5% |
| 1989 | 4.91 | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 4.99 | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 5.32 | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 5.84 | +9.8% |
| 1993 | 2.54 | -56.5% |
| 1994 | 4.25 | +67.4% |
| 1995 | 3.16 | -25.7% |
| 1996 | 3.17 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 3 | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 3.76 | +25.4% |
| 1999 | 2.86 | -23.7% |
| 2000 | 3.09 | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 3.15 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 2.46 | -22.0% |
| 2003 | 2.62 | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 2.55 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 2.71 | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 3.15 | +16.3% |
| 2007 | 3.68 | +16.9% |
| 2008 | 3.44 | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 3.11 | -9.7% |
| 2010 | 3.19 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 3.23 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 3.25 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.28 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 3.51 | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 3.81 | +8.6% |
| 2016 | 3.98 | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 6.22 | +56.3% |
| 2018 | 6.77 | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 6.23 | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 6.2 | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 7.03 | +13.3% |
| 2022 | 3.29 | -53.1% |
| 2023 | 3.07 | -6.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 3.07 is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.25, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 3.07 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.99, 77% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +73.0% | 1.52 | 2.62 |
| 1994 | +67.4% | 2.54 | 4.25 |
| 1993 | -56.5% | 5.84 | 2.54 |
| 2017 | +56.3% | 3.98 | 6.22 |
| 2022 | -53.1% | 7.03 | 3.29 |
| 1982 | +47.0% | 4.26 | 6.27 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.36 | 1.29 | 1.42 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.45 | 1.4 | 1.53 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.88 | 1.51 | 3.79 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.22 | 3.95 | 8.71 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.89 | 2.54 | 5.84 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 | 2.46 | 3.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.35 | 3.19 | 6.77 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9 | 3.07 | 7.03 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan was 3.07 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.71 in 1985.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.29 in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- Afghanistan ranks 219th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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