The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index was 42 in 2023. ▲ Rising
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Afghanistan, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 42 for the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Afghanistan peaked at 42 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 30, in 2000.
That places Afghanistan 181st out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 30 | — |
| 2001 | 31 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 32 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 33 | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 34 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 35 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 35 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 36 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 36 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 37 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 38 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 36 | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 37 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 38 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 38 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 38 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 39 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 40 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 42 | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 42 | +0.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 42 is below the median for low income countries, which is 43, 98% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 42 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71, 59% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.9 | 30 | 37 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.8 | 36 | 42 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42 | 42 | 42 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 178 Guinea 43 compare
- 178 Guinea-Bissau 43 compare
- 178 Yemen 43 compare
- 181 Togo 42 compare
- 183 Democratic Republic of Congo 41 compare
- 183 Mali 41 compare
- 183 South Sudan 41 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)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (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 the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Afghanistan?
- The universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Afghanistan was 42 in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 42 in 2018.
- What is the lowest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 30 in 2000.
- How does Afghanistan rank for the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index?
- Afghanistan ranks 181st out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index is measured on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) based on the average coverage of essential services including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and service capacity and access.