Difference in male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 2.67 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.67
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
220th
of 236 countries
All-time high
12.83
in 1985
All-time low
1.14
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, difference in male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan stood at 2.67.
That represents a change of down 9.0% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan peaked at 12.83 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1.14, in 1950.
Afghanistan ranks 220th 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 male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.14 | — |
| 1951 | 1.18 | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 1.22 | +3.4% |
| 1953 | 1.26 | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 1.24 | -1.6% |
| 1955 | 1.35 | +8.9% |
| 1956 | 1.37 | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 1.37 | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 1.36 | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 1.37 | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 1.37 | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 1.38 | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 1.38 | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 1.4 | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 1.42 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 1.45 | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 1.48 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 1.51 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 1.49 | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 1.51 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 1.55 | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 1.59 | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 1.62 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 1.62 | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 1.62 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 1.61 | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 1.59 | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 1.56 | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 3.21 | +105.6% |
| 1979 | 4.93 | +53.7% |
| 1980 | 5.11 | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 5.55 | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 8.74 | +57.5% |
| 1983 | 8.97 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 12.81 | +42.7% |
| 1985 | 12.83 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 9.15 | -28.6% |
| 1987 | 9.35 | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 6.52 | -30.2% |
| 1989 | 6.05 | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 6.07 | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 6.43 | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 6.94 | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 2.67 | -61.5% |
| 1994 | 4.7 | +75.7% |
| 1995 | 3.32 | -29.4% |
| 1996 | 3.26 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 3.05 | -6.5% |
| 1998 | 4.01 | +31.5% |
| 1999 | 2.81 | -29.7% |
| 2000 | 3.06 | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 3.11 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 2.33 | -25.2% |
| 2003 | 2.47 | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 2.37 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 2.53 | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.01 | +19.2% |
| 2007 | 3.59 | +19.1% |
| 2008 | 3.3 | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 2.91 | -11.7% |
| 2010 | 2.97 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 2.99 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.02 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.26 | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 3.58 | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 3.69 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 6.09 | +64.9% |
| 2018 | 6.67 | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 6.1 | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 6.08 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 6.98 | +14.7% |
| 2022 | 2.93 | -58.0% |
| 2023 | 2.67 | -9.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 2.67 is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.69, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 2.67 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.85, 69% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in male and female life expectancy 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 | +105.6% | 1.56 | 3.21 |
| 1994 | +75.7% | 2.67 | 4.7 |
| 2017 | +64.9% | 3.69 | 6.09 |
| 1993 | -61.5% | 6.94 | 2.67 |
| 2022 | -58.0% | 6.98 | 2.93 |
| 1982 | +57.5% | 5.55 | 8.74 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.29 | 1.14 | 1.37 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.44 | 1.37 | 1.51 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.09 | 1.55 | 4.93 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.51 | 5.11 | 12.83 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.33 | 2.67 | 6.94 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.87 | 2.33 | 3.59 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.14 | 2.97 | 6.67 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.66 | 2.67 | 6.98 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 217 Madagascar 2.81 compare
- 218 Gambia 2.78 compare
- 219 Nepal 2.71 compare
- 221 Wallis and Futuna 2.65 compare
- 222 Sierra Leone 2.62 compare
- 223 Mali 2.59 compare
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 male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in Afghanistan was 2.67 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.83 in 1985.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.14 in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- Afghanistan ranks 220th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. 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 male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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