Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia
Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia: Median age
Median age in 2023: 16.9 years in Afghanistan and 29.3 years in Saudi Arabia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Saudi Arabia, by 12.3 years, or 1.73 times that in Afghanistan.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Saudi Arabia has been higher since 1974, when it overtook Afghanistan.
- In 2023, Afghanistan ranked 219 and Saudi Arabia ranked 131 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Afghanistan at 34.8 years and Saudi Arabia at 35.8 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Afghanistan | Saudi Arabia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16.9 | 29.3 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 16.8 | 28.7 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 16.6 | 28.5 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 16.4 | 28.5 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 16.2 | 28.4 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 16.1 | 28.3 | 29 |
| 2017 | 15.9 | 28.1 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 15.7 | 27.6 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 15.5 | 27 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 15.3 | 26.3 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 15.1 | 25.6 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 15 | 24.9 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 14.8 | 24.2 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 14.6 | 23.6 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 14.5 | 22.9 | 27 |
| 2008 | 14.3 | 22.3 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 14.2 | 21.8 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 14.1 | 21.2 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 14 | 20.8 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 13.9 | 20.3 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 13.9 | 20 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 13.9 | 19.8 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 13.9 | 19.7 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 14 | 19.7 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 14.1 | 19.7 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 14.2 | 19.4 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 14.3 | 19.2 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 14.4 | 18.9 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 14.6 | 18.7 | 24 |
| 1994 | 14.7 | 18.5 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 14.8 | 18.4 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 14.9 | 18.2 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 14.9 | 18.1 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 15 | 18 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 15.1 | 17.9 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 15.1 | 17.9 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 15.2 | 17.8 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 15.2 | 17.7 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 15.3 | 17.6 | 22 |
| 1984 | 15.4 | 17.6 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 15.5 | 17.5 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 15.6 | 17.4 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 15.7 | 17.3 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 15.8 | 17.1 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 15.9 | 17 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 16 | 16.9 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 16.2 | 16.8 | 21 |
| 1976 | 16.3 | 16.7 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 16.4 | 16.6 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 16.6 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 16.7 | 16.3 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17 | 16.3 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.1 | 16.3 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.3 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.4 | 16.5 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 16.6 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 16.8 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.6 | 17 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.6 | 17.1 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 17.8 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 17.9 | 17.6 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18 | 17.7 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18 | 17.8 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.1 | 17.9 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18.1 | 18 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 18.2 | 18 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 18.2 | 18 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 18.3 | 18 | 22 |
| 1952 | 18.3 | 18 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 18.4 | 18 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 18.4 | 18 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Afghanistan | Saudi Arabia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17.116.9–17.3 | 29.629.4–29.5 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 17.316.7–17.8 | 29.629.2–29.4 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 17.416.5–18.2 | 29.729.1–29.4 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 17.616.4–18.5 | 29.729–29.4 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 17.816.5–18.8 | 29.728.9–29.4 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 1816.6–19.1 | 29.728.9–29.3 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 18.216.7–19.4 | 29.728.8–29.3 | 32 |
| 2031 | 18.417–19.7 | 29.728.9–29.3 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 18.617.2–19.9 | 29.829–29.2 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 18.817.4–20.1 | 29.829.1–29.2 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 19.117.6–20.4 | 29.929.2–29.3 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 19.317.9–20.5 | 3029.3–29.3 | 33 |
| 2036 | 19.518.2–20.7 | 30.129.4–29.4 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 19.718.5–20.7 | 30.329.5–29.6 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 2018.8–20.7 | 30.429.6–29.7 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 20.219.1–20.8 | 30.529.7–29.9 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 20.519.5–21 | 30.729.8–30 | 34 |
| 2041 | 20.719.8–21.1 | 30.829.9–30.2 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 2120.2–21.2 | 30.930.1–30.4 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 21.220.6–21.3 | 31.130.2–30.5 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 21.521–21.5 | 31.230.4–30.7 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 21.721.4–21.6 | 31.330.5–30.8 | 35 |
| 2046 | 2221.7–21.8 | 31.530.6–31 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 22.221.8–22.2 | 31.630.8–31.1 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 22.522–22.5 | 31.730.9–31.3 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 22.822.1–22.9 | 31.931.1–31.5 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 2322.2–23.2 | 3231.3–31.6 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 23.322.5–23.6 | 32.131.4–31.8 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 23.622.7–23.9 | 32.231.6–31.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 23.822.9–24.2 | 32.331.8–32 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 24.123.2–24.5 | 32.431.9–32.1 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 24.323.4–24.7 | 32.532.1–32.3 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 24.623.6–24.9 | 32.632.3–32.4 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 24.923.8–25.2 | 32.732.4–32.6 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 25.123.9–25.5 | 32.832.6–32.8 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 25.424–25.8 | 32.932.8–32.9 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 25.624.2–25.9 | 3333–33.1 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 25.924.4–25.9 | 33.133.1–33.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 26.124.7–25.9 | 33.333.2–33.4 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 26.424.8–26 | 33.433.3–33.5 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 26.625–26.2 | 33.533.4–33.6 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 26.925.1–26.3 | 33.633.5–33.7 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 27.125.3–26.7 | 33.733.6–33.9 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 27.425.4–27.2 | 33.833.7–34 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 27.625.6–27.5 | 33.933.8–34.1 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 27.925.7–27.8 | 3433.8–34.2 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 28.125.9–27.9 | 3433.9–34.3 | 39 |
| 2071 | 28.326–27.9 | 34.133.9–34.5 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 28.626.3–28.1 | 34.234–34.6 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 28.826.5–28.5 | 34.334–34.7 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 2926.7–28.7 | 34.434.1–34.8 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 29.326.9–28.9 | 34.534.1–34.9 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 29.527.1–29.3 | 34.534.2–35 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 29.827.2–29.7 | 34.634.3–35.1 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 3027.3–30 | 34.734.3–35.2 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 30.227.3–30.3 | 34.734.4–35.3 | 40 |
| 2080 | 30.527.4–30.5 | 34.834.4–35.4 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 30.727.5–30.8 | 34.934.4–35.4 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 30.927.7–31 | 34.934.5–35.5 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 31.227.8–31.2 | 3534.5–35.6 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 31.427.9–31.6 | 3534.5–35.7 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 31.628.1–31.9 | 35.134.5–35.8 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 31.828.2–32.3 | 35.134.5–35.8 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 32.128.3–32.3 | 35.234.5–35.9 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 32.328.4–32.4 | 35.334.5–35.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 32.528.6–32.8 | 35.334.5–35.9 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 32.728.8–33.2 | 35.434.5–36 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 32.928.9–33.5 | 35.434.5–36 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 33.229.1–33.8 | 35.534.5–36.1 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 33.429.3–34.1 | 35.534.4–36.1 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 33.629.5–34.2 | 35.634.4–36.1 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 33.829.7–34.2 | 35.634.4–36.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 3429.9–34.3 | 35.634.4–36.1 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 34.230–34.4 | 35.734.4–36.1 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 34.430.2–34.6 | 35.734.4–36.1 | 42 |
| 2099 | 34.630.4–34.6 | 35.834.4–36.1 | 42 |
| 2100 | 34.830.5–34.6 | 35.834.4–36.2 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia
Health
- Life expectancyAfghanistan: 66 years in 2023Saudi Arabia: 78.7 years in 2023
- Child mortalityAfghanistan: 5.3 per 100 live births in 2024Saudi Arabia: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityAfghanistan: 44 per 1,000 live births in 2023Saudi Arabia: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionAfghanistan: 4.14% in 2017Saudi Arabia: 3.54% in 2017
- Suicide rateAfghanistan: 9.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Saudi Arabia: 2.9 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationAfghanistan: 41.5 million people in 2023Saudi Arabia: 33.3 million people in 2023
- Population growthAfghanistan: 2.85% a year in 2023Saudi Arabia: 2.39% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateAfghanistan: 4.84 births per woman in 2023Saudi Arabia: 2.28 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationAfghanistan: 25.9% in 2025Saudi Arabia: 84.6% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overAfghanistan: 2.4% in 2023Saudi Arabia: 2.8% in 2023
- Net migration rateAfghanistan: -1.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Saudi Arabia: 9.8 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingAfghanistan: 1.83% of GDP in 2021Saudi Arabia: 6.48% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsAfghanistan: $8.55M in 1977Saudi Arabia: $81.5B in 2025
- Military spending per personAfghanistan: $7 in 2021Saudi Arabia: $2,428 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingAfghanistan: 5% of government spending in 2020Saudi Arabia: 23.5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelAfghanistan: 165,000 people in 2020Saudi Arabia: 282,000 people in 2020
- National powerAfghanistan: 0.29% of world capability in 2022Saudi Arabia: 1.34% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersAfghanistan: 1.82% of the labour force in 2020Saudi Arabia: 1.92% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsAfghanistan: 65 million TIV in 2021Saudi Arabia: 3.04 billion TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsAfghanistan: 1 million TIV in 1992Saudi Arabia: 3 million TIV in 2023