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Afghanistan vs Malawi statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a population of 42.6M (ranked 36/197), compared with 21.7M in Malawi (ranked 62/197). Afghanistan's land area is 251,827 sq mi versus 36,402 sq mi for Malawi (ranked 40th vs. 107th).

By GDP, Afghanistan ranks 137/197 ($17.2B) and Malawi ranks 151/197 ($11.3B). By GDP per capita, Afghanistan ranks 196/197 ($414), while Malawi ranks 194/197 ($523).

Main facts and rankings

Afghanistan Malawi
Population
45409324
22949294
Population rank 36/197 61/197
GDP
$17.2B
2023
$11.3B
2024
GDP rank 137/197 151/197
GDP per capita
$414
2023
$523
2024
GDP per capita rank 196/197 194/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$1,858
2024
Government debt
$1.44B
2023
$9.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
8.8%
2024
87.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$34.8
2023
$458
2024
Government debt per person rank 185/185 168/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,869
2026
$3,031
2026
Land area 251,827 sq mi 36,402 sq mi
Population density
179 ppl/mi²
2026
626 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.84
2023
3.65
2023
Median age
18.2 years
2024
18.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
67.9 years
2026

Afghanistan and Malawi: Comparison Charts

Afghanistan and Malawi economies compared

GDP
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year GDP
Afghanistan Malawi
2024 - $11,316,411,329
2023 $17,152,234,637 $13,363,669,673
2022 $14,497,243,872 $12,429,059,928
2021 $14,259,995,441 $12,378,119,199
2020 $19,955,929,052 $11,769,313,598
2019 $18,799,444,490 $11,051,852,713
2018 $18,053,222,687 $9,879,220,354
2017 $18,753,456,498 $8,943,543,794
2016 $18,116,572,395 $7,909,868,618
2015 $19,134,221,645 $9,219,474,379
2014 $20,497,128,556 $8,801,326,169
2013 $20,146,416,758 $8,031,571,928
2012 $19,907,329,778 $8,773,203,178
2011 $17,805,098,206 $11,648,142,958
2010 $15,856,668,556 $10,128,323,011
2009 $12,416,152,732 $9,009,887,947
2008 $10,109,297,048 $7,743,617,352
2007 $9,747,886,187 $6,451,210,219
2006 $6,971,758,282 $5,818,279,739
2005 $6,203,256,539 $5,320,409,651
2004 $5,224,896,719 $5,058,726,350
2003 $4,520,946,819 $4,669,789,300
2002 $3,825,701,439 $5,087,328,438
2001 $2,813,571,754 $2,498,008,665
2000 $3,521,418,060 $2,537,307,580
1999 - $2,584,478,924
1998 - $2,547,609,590
1997 - $3,875,785,863
1996 - $3,319,573,750
1995 - $2,033,701,498
1994 - $1,719,864,761
1993 - $3,013,392,658
1992 - $2,618,837,835
1991 - $3,206,783,830
1990 - $2,737,087,862
1989 - $2,314,205,130
1988 - $2,008,189,508
1987 - $1,721,711,808
1986 - $1,722,586,299
1985 - $1,646,442,273
1984 - $1,758,028,656
1983 - $1,780,148,049
1982 - $1,717,379,495
1981 - $1,801,193,910
1980 - $1,801,156,775

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Afghanistan and Malawi economies compared

GDP per capita
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year GDP per capita
Afghanistan Malawi
2024 - $523
2023 $414 $633
2022 $357 $604
2021 $356 $617
2020 $511 $603
2019 $497 $581
2018 $491 $533
2017 $525 $496
2016 $522 $451
2015 $566 $540
2014 $625 $530
2013 $637 $497
2012 $651 $558
2011 $607 $763
2010 $561 $683
2009 $452 $626
2008 $382 $554
2007 $376 $475
2006 $274.2 $441
2005 $254.2 $414
2004 $221.8 $405
2003 $198.9 $383
2002 $179 $428
2001 $138.7 $215.5
2000 $174.9 $224.2
1999 - $233.9
1998 - $236
1997 - $367
1996 - $321
1995 - $200.4
1994 - $169.2
1993 - $293
1992 - $258.4
1991 - $326
1990 - $286.7
1989 - $252.2
1988 - $229.4
1987 - $207.6
1986 - $217.9
1985 - $216.1
1984 - $239.7
1983 - $252.4
1982 - $253.3
1981 - $276.4
1980 - $287.5

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Afghanistan vs. Malawi life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Afghanistan Malawi
2026 66.8 67.9
2025 66.5 67.7
2024 66.3 67.6
2023 66 67.4
2022 65.6 66
2021 60.4 64.8
2020 61.5 65.2
2019 62.9 65
2018 62.4 64.5
2017 62.4 63.9
2016 62.6 63.2
2015 62.3 62.3
2014 62.3 61.7
2013 62.2 60.8
2012 61.7 59.9
2011 61.3 58.9
2010 60.7 57.8
2009 60.2 56.7
2008 59.7 55.7
2007 59 54.7
2006 58.6 53.7
2005 58.2 52.5
2004 57.8 51.1
2003 57.2 49.6
2002 56.2 48.2
2001 55.5 47.2
2000 55 46.2
1999 54.5 45.1
1998 52.5 44.3
1997 53.2 44.2
1996 52.8 44
1995 52.1 43.8
1994 51 43.8
1993 51 43.6
1992 46.6 43.6
1991 45.5 43.5
1990 45.1 43.6
1989 44.5 43.5
1988 43.2 43.6
1987 38.8 43.9
1986 38.4 44.3
1985 32.1 44.6
1984 31.5 44.8
1983 36.5 45
1982 36.1 44.8
1981 39.4 44.7
1980 39.3 44.3
1979 38.8 43.7
1978 40.1 43
1977 41.1 42
1976 40.5 41
1975 40 40.1
1974 39.5 39.2
1973 39 38.4
1972 38.4 37.6
1971 37.9 37.1
1970 37.5 36.6
1969 37 36.3
1968 36.5 36.1
1967 36 35.9
1966 35.6 35.8
1965 35.1 35.7
1964 34.7 35.7
1963 34.2 35.6
1962 33.8 35.4
1961 33.3 35.2
1960 32.8 35
1959 32.3 34.8
1958 31.8 34.4
1957 31.3 34.1
1956 30.8 33.8
1955 30.4 33.6
1954 29.7 33.3
1953 29.5 33.2
1952 29 33
1951 28.6 32.8
1950 28.2 32.7

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Afghanistan and Malawi population clocks and comparison

Population
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Malawi
2024 42,647,492 21,655,286
2023 41,454,761 21,104,482
2022 40,578,842 20,568,728
2021 40,000,412 20,047,258
2020 39,068,979 19,533,888
2019 37,856,121 19,025,752
2018 36,743,039 18,528,081
2017 35,688,935 18,039,715
2016 34,700,612 17,557,739
2015 33,831,764 17,085,587
2014 32,792,523 16,621,538
2013 31,622,704 16,161,816
2012 30,560,034 15,709,577
2011 29,347,708 15,265,022
2010 28,284,089 14,826,463
2009 27,466,101 14,395,788
2008 26,482,622 13,976,417
2007 25,909,852 13,576,343
2006 25,424,094 13,198,701
2005 24,404,567 12,840,031
2004 23,560,654 12,500,737
2003 22,733,049 12,181,574
2002 21,378,117 11,880,440
2001 20,284,307 11,593,058
2000 20,130,327 11,315,942
1999 19,887,785 11,047,804
1998 19,159,996 10,792,876
1997 18,452,091 10,562,035
1996 17,763,266 10,352,228
1995 17,065,836 10,150,117
1994 16,250,794 10,164,894
1993 14,943,172 10,284,024
1992 13,278,974 10,135,079
1991 12,238,879 9,844,227
1990 12,045,660 9,545,852
1989 11,874,088 9,176,220
1988 11,523,298 8,753,262
1987 11,387,818 8,293,174
1986 11,420,074 7,906,480
1985 11,426,852 7,620,508
1984 11,190,221 7,332,810
1983 10,917,982 7,051,709
1982 10,991,378 6,778,879
1981 11,937,581 6,516,454
1980 13,169,311 6,265,529
1979 13,655,567 6,028,749
1978 13,611,441 5,810,132
1977 13,340,756 5,614,983
1976 13,059,851 5,443,384
1975 12,773,954 5,287,367
1974 12,469,127 5,141,337
1973 12,157,999 5,003,938
1972 11,853,696 4,874,475
1971 11,567,667 4,751,434
1970 11,290,128 4,633,944
1969 11,017,409 4,521,184
1968 10,756,922 4,411,054
1967 10,505,959 4,303,012
1966 10,266,395 4,197,926
1965 10,036,008 4,096,157
1964 9,814,318 3,997,305
1963 9,604,487 3,900,506
1962 9,404,406 3,806,307
1961 9,214,083 3,715,534
1960 9,035,043 3,628,134

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Fertility rates in Afghanistan and Malawi

Fertility rate
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year Fertility rate
Afghanistan Malawi
2023 4.84 3.65
2022 4.93 3.72
2021 5.04 3.79
2020 5.15 3.88
2019 5.24 3.95
2018 5.33 4.02
2017 5.43 4.11
2016 5.54 4.22
2015 5.65 4.38
2014 5.77 4.57
2013 5.88 4.76
2012 5.99 4.9
2011 6.09 5.08
2010 6.2 5.26
2009 6.3 5.45
2008 6.39 5.61
2007 6.51 5.72
2006 6.69 5.8
2005 6.86 5.85
2004 7.02 5.86
2003 7.17 5.88
2002 7.32 5.9
2001 7.45 5.94
2000 7.57 6
1999 7.64 6.12
1998 7.69 6.21
1997 7.73 6.23
1996 7.76 6.29
1995 7.77 6.39
1994 7.77 6.49
1993 7.76 6.57
1992 7.7 6.63
1991 7.63 6.68
1990 7.58 6.74
1989 7.56 6.8
1988 7.55 6.88
1987 7.55 6.97
1986 7.55 7.07
1985 7.55 7.17
1984 7.55 7.27
1983 7.57 7.36
1982 7.6 7.45
1981 7.62 7.49
1980 7.64 7.52
1979 7.61 7.47
1978 7.6 7.43
1977 7.59 7.41
1976 7.56 7.39
1975 7.54 7.36
1974 7.53 7.34
1973 7.49 7.34
1972 7.45 7.33
1971 7.43 7.31
1970 7.4 7.3
1969 7.39 7.27
1968 7.36 7.26
1967 7.34 7.21
1966 7.32 7.17
1965 7.31 7.13
1964 7.3 7.11
1963 7.3 7.13
1962 7.29 7.1
1961 7.28 7.07
1960 7.28 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Afghanistan and Malawi demographics compared

Median age
Afghanistan

Malawi
1x
Year Median age, years
Afghanistan Malawi
2024 18.2 18.9
2023 18 18.7
2022 17.8 18.4
2021 17.6 18.2
2020 17.5 18
2019 17.3 17.8
2018 17.1 17.6
2017 17 17.4
2016 16.8 17.2
2015 16.6 17.1
2014 16.4 17
2013 16.2 16.9
2012 16 16.8
2011 15.9 16.8
2010 15.7 16.7
2009 15.5 16.7
2008 15.3 16.8
2007 15.2 16.8
2006 15.1 16.8
2005 15 16.8
2004 14.9 16.8
2003 14.9 16.8
2002 14.9 16.8
2001 14.9 16.8
2000 15 16.8
1999 15.1 16.7
1998 15.2 16.8
1997 15.3 16.8
1996 15.5 16.8
1995 15.6 16.9
1994 15.7 16.9
1993 15.8 17
1992 15.9 17.1
1991 16 17.2
1990 16.1 17.3
1989 16.1 17.4
1988 16.2 17.5
1987 16.3 17.4
1986 16.3 17.3
1985 16.4 17.3
1984 16.5 17.3
1983 16.6 17.3
1982 16.7 17.3
1981 16.8 17.3
1980 16.9 17.3
1979 17 17.4
1978 17.2 17.4
1977 17.3 17.4
1976 17.4 17.5
1975 17.5 17.5
1974 17.6 17.6
1973 17.7 17.7
1972 17.8 17.8
1971 17.9 17.9
1970 18.1 18
1969 18.2 18.2
1968 18.3 18.3
1967 18.4 18.3
1966 18.5 18.3
1965 18.6 18.4
1964 18.6 18.3
1963 18.7 18.3
1962 18.8 18.3
1961 18.9 18.3
1960 18.9 18.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/malawi | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Afghanistan and Malawi.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Afghanistan Malawi
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
$12.3B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
29.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.34%
2017
2.75%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2021
1.02%
2024
Armed forces personnel
165,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.54%
2024
-11%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
15.4%
2024
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
44.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
53
2021
50.7
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31%
2019
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.9%
2019
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$594M
2020
Personal remittances received
$320M
2024
$187M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
871,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports
5.08%
2020
2.68%
2020
Banked people share
9.65%
2021
50.4%
2024

Energy

Afghanistan Malawi
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.1 megatons
2024
4.79 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.28 tons
2024
0.22 tons
2024
Renewable energy use share
20%
2022
62.9%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
78.2%
2021
80.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
71.7%
2021
72.5%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
85.3%
2023
15.6%
2023

Society

Afghanistan Malawi
% of world population
0.52%
2024
0.27%
2024
Annual migration change
-74,404
2025
-5,628
2025
Urban population
25.7%
2024
17.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.5:49.5
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.44 ft
2025
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
5.12 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.5
2026
31.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
16
2025
34
2025
Higher education index
20
2026
26
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.02
2021
1.79
2012
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.9
2019
33.4
2019
Visa free countries
36
2025
78
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.3%
2021
68.1%
2022
English speaking
6%
2023
3.88%
2023
People using the Internet
17.7%
2023
18%
2023

Health

Afghanistan Malawi
Government health expenditure per capita
$59.1
2023
$41.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$45.6
2023
$4.95
2023
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
67.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
21.2%
2023
65.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.32
2023
0.05
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
19.1 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
521
2023
225
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
55.5
2023
38.3
2023
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
7.87%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.7%
2024
5.7%
2024
Air quality index
3
2026
34
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.7%
2022
9.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
3.61 liters
2020

Territory

Afghanistan Malawi
% of world land
0.44%
2026
0.06%
2026
Land area per capita
5,905 sq mi
2024
1,681 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
147,167 sq mi
2026
23,359 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,666 sq mi
2026
8,169 sq mi
2026
Roads length
21,688 mi
2021
9,601 mi
2015

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2021–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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