China vs Afghanistan: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | China | Afghanistan | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 1.4bn2025 | 43.8m2025 | 2 · 36 |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2024 | 652,870 km²2024 | 4 · 40 |
| Density | 150.12024 | 65.42024 | 76 · 140 |
| Urban share | 66.3%2025 | 25.9%2025 | 101 · 204 |
| Fertility | 1.012024 | 4.762024 | 210 · 9 |
| Aged 65+ | 14.9%2025 | 2.4%2025 | 68 · 210 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $19.5tn2025 | $17.8bn2024 | 2 · 139 |
| GDP per capita | $13,8622025 | $4172024 | 93 · 210 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $29,3332025 | $2,2362024 | 81 · 189 |
| GDP growth | 5.0%2025 | 1.9%2024 | 53 · 149 |
| Agriculture share | 6.7%2025 | 34.3%2024 | 95 · 6 |
| Industry share | 35.6%2025 | 14.5%2024 | 29 · 163 |
| Services share | 57.7%2025 | 45.2%2024 | 101 · 170 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 0.1%2025 | -6.6%2024 | 167 · 180 |
| Tax revenue | 7.0%2024 | — | 133 · — |
| Military spending | 1.72%2025 | 1.83%2021 | 78 · 76 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 21.1%2025 | 15.7%2024 | 145 · 160 |
| FDI inflows | 0.4%2025 | 0.1%2021 | 163 · 170 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.6%2025 | 13.4%2025 | 112 · 21 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 26.5%2025 | 27.0%2021 | 93 · 89 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 76.9%2024 | 10.9%2020 | 38 · 150 |
| Education spending | 3.9%2023 | — | 105 · — |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs2024 | 66.3 yrs2024 | 70 · 184 |
| Infant mortality | 4.12024 | 48.32024 | 154 · 13 |
| Health spending | 5.9%2023 | 15.0%2023 | 106 · 4 |
| Physicians | 3.112022 | 0.322023 | 56 · 139 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 91.6%2025 | 16.1%2024 | 47 · 182 |
| Fixed broadband | 47.22024 | 0.12023 | 9 · 197 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 87.8%2024 | 24 · 166 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.32 t2024 | 0.28 t2024 | 22 · 176 |
| Renewable energy | 15.2%2021 | 20.0%2022 | 122 · 107 |
| Forest cover | 24.0%2024 | 1.9%2024 | 122 · 189 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
ChinaAfghanistan
Life expectancy
ChinaAfghanistan
Population
ChinaAfghanistan
Internet users
ChinaAfghanistan
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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