Afghanistan vs Syria
Afghanistan vs Syria: Median age
Median age in 2023: 16.9 years in Afghanistan and 22.3 years in Syria, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Syria, by 5.3 years, or 1.31 times that in Afghanistan.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Syria has been higher since 1988, when it overtook Afghanistan.
- In 2023, Afghanistan ranked 219 and Syria ranked 173 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Afghanistan at 34.8 years and Syria at 43.3 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Afghanistan | Syria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16.9 | 22.3 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 16.8 | 21.6 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 16.6 | 21 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 16.4 | 20.4 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 16.2 | 19.8 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 16.1 | 19.1 | 29 |
| 2017 | 15.9 | 18.6 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 15.7 | 18.4 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 15.5 | 18.4 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 15.3 | 19.1 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 15.1 | 20.1 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 15 | 20.8 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 14.8 | 20.9 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 14.6 | 20.7 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 14.5 | 20.5 | 27 |
| 2008 | 14.3 | 20.3 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 14.2 | 19.9 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 14.1 | 19.2 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 14 | 18.7 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 13.9 | 18.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 13.9 | 18.2 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 13.9 | 17.9 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 13.9 | 17.7 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 14 | 17.5 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 14.1 | 17.2 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 14.2 | 17 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 14.3 | 16.8 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 14.4 | 16.6 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 14.6 | 16.4 | 24 |
| 1994 | 14.7 | 16.2 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 14.8 | 16 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 14.9 | 15.8 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 14.9 | 15.6 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 15 | 15.4 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 15.1 | 15.3 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 15.1 | 15.2 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 15.2 | 15 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 15.3 | 14.9 | 22 |
| 1984 | 15.4 | 14.8 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 15.5 | 14.7 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 15.6 | 14.6 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 15.7 | 14.6 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 15.8 | 14.5 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 15.9 | 14.5 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 16 | 14.6 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 21 |
| 1976 | 16.3 | 14.6 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 16.4 | 14.6 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 16.5 | 14.6 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 16.6 | 14.7 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 16.7 | 14.7 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 16.8 | 14.8 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17 | 14.8 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.1 | 14.9 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.3 | 15 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.4 | 15.1 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 15.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 15.5 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.6 | 15.6 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.6 | 15.7 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 17.7 | 15.9 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 17.8 | 16.2 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 17.9 | 16.5 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18 | 16.8 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18 | 17.1 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.1 | 17.4 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18.1 | 17.7 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 18.2 | 18 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 18.3 | 18.5 | 22 |
| 1952 | 18.3 | 18.8 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 18.4 | 19 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 18.4 | 19.2 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Afghanistan | Syria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17.116.9–17.3 | 22.822.8–22.8 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 17.316.7–17.8 | 23.323.3–23.4 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 17.416.5–18.2 | 23.823.7–23.8 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 17.616.4–18.5 | 24.324.2–24.3 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 17.816.5–18.8 | 24.724.6–24.8 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 1816.6–19.1 | 25.125–25.2 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 18.216.7–19.4 | 25.525.3–25.7 | 32 |
| 2031 | 18.417–19.7 | 25.925.7–26.2 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 18.617.2–19.9 | 26.226.1–26.6 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 18.817.4–20.1 | 26.626.4–27.1 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 19.117.6–20.4 | 26.926.7–27.6 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 19.317.9–20.5 | 27.326.9–28.2 | 33 |
| 2036 | 19.518.2–20.7 | 27.727.3–28.8 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 19.718.5–20.7 | 28.127.6–29.4 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 2018.8–20.7 | 28.527.9–30 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 20.219.1–20.8 | 28.928.2–30.7 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 20.519.5–21 | 29.328.5–31.3 | 34 |
| 2041 | 20.719.8–21.1 | 29.728.7–32 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 2120.2–21.2 | 30.128.9–32.6 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 21.220.6–21.3 | 30.529.2–33.3 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 21.521–21.5 | 30.829.4–34 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 21.721.4–21.6 | 31.229.6–34.8 | 35 |
| 2046 | 2221.7–21.8 | 31.529.8–35.6 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 22.221.8–22.2 | 31.730–36.2 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 22.522–22.5 | 31.930–36.9 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 22.822.1–22.9 | 3230.1–37.5 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 2322.2–23.2 | 32.130.2–38.1 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 23.322.5–23.6 | 32.230.3–38.8 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 23.622.7–23.9 | 32.330.4–39.5 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 23.822.9–24.2 | 32.430.6–40.3 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 24.123.2–24.5 | 32.530.7–40.9 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 24.323.4–24.7 | 32.730.8–41.5 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 24.623.6–24.9 | 32.930.9–42.1 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 24.923.8–25.2 | 33.231–42.6 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 25.123.9–25.5 | 33.431.2–43 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 25.424–25.8 | 33.731.3–43.4 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 25.624.2–25.9 | 34.131.5–42.6 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 25.924.4–25.9 | 34.431.6–41.1 | 38 |
| 2062 | 26.124.7–25.9 | 34.731.8–40.9 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 26.424.8–26 | 35.132.1–41 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 26.625–26.2 | 35.432.3–41.3 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 26.925.1–26.3 | 35.732.6–41.9 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 27.125.3–26.7 | 36.132.8–42.5 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 27.425.4–27.2 | 36.533–43.1 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 27.625.6–27.5 | 36.833.3–43.6 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 27.925.7–27.8 | 37.233.5–44.1 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 28.125.9–27.9 | 37.633.8–44.8 | 39 |
| 2071 | 28.326–27.9 | 37.934.1–45.5 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 28.626.3–28.1 | 38.334.4–46 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 28.826.5–28.5 | 38.734.7–46.6 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 2926.7–28.7 | 3934.8–47.4 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 29.326.9–28.9 | 39.334.9–47.9 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 29.527.1–29.3 | 39.735–48.1 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 29.827.2–29.7 | 4035.1–48.3 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 3027.3–30 | 40.335.2–48.7 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 30.227.3–30.3 | 40.635.3–49 | 40 |
| 2080 | 30.527.4–30.5 | 40.835.5–49.3 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 30.727.5–30.8 | 4135.7–49.7 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 30.927.7–31 | 41.235.8–50 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 31.227.8–31.2 | 41.436–50.3 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 31.427.9–31.6 | 41.536.1–50.6 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 31.628.1–31.9 | 41.636.2–50.6 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 31.828.2–32.3 | 41.736.3–50.7 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 32.128.3–32.3 | 41.936.4–50.8 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 32.328.4–32.4 | 41.936.5–50.7 | 41 |
| 2089 | 32.528.6–32.8 | 4236.6–50.1 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 32.728.8–33.2 | 42.136.7–49 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 32.928.9–33.5 | 42.136.7–47.5 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 33.229.1–33.8 | 42.236.8–46.4 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 33.429.3–34.1 | 42.336.8–45.4 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 33.629.5–34.2 | 42.437–44.7 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 33.829.7–34.2 | 42.537.1–44.1 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 3429.9–34.3 | 42.637.1–43.7 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 34.230–34.4 | 42.737.1–43.5 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 34.430.2–34.6 | 42.937.2–43.4 | 42 |
| 2099 | 34.630.4–34.6 | 43.137.4–43.4 | 42 |
| 2100 | 34.830.5–34.6 | 43.337.6–43.2 | 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 Syria
Health
- Life expectancyAfghanistan: 66 years in 2023Syria: 72.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityAfghanistan: 5.3 per 100 live births in 2024Syria: 1.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityAfghanistan: 44 per 1,000 live births in 2023Syria: 16.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionAfghanistan: 4.14% in 2017Syria: 3.58% in 2017
- Suicide rateAfghanistan: 9.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Syria: 3.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationAfghanistan: 41.5 million people in 2023Syria: 23.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthAfghanistan: 2.85% a year in 2023Syria: 4.92% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateAfghanistan: 4.84 births per woman in 2023Syria: 2.71 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationAfghanistan: 25.9% in 2025Syria: 72.1% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overAfghanistan: 2.4% in 2023Syria: 4.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateAfghanistan: -1.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Syria: 32.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingAfghanistan: 1.83% of GDP in 2021Syria: 4.06% of GDP in 2010
- Military spending per personAfghanistan: $7 in 2021Syria: $110 in 2011
- Military share of state spendingAfghanistan: 5% of government spending in 2020Syria: 13.6% of government spending in 2010
- Armed forces personnelAfghanistan: 165,000 people in 2020Syria: 269,000 people in 2020
- National powerAfghanistan: 0.29% of world capability in 2022Syria: 0.29% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersAfghanistan: 1.82% of the labour force in 2020Syria: 5.44% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsAfghanistan: 65 million TIV in 2021Syria: 2 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsAfghanistan: 1 million TIV in 1992Syria: 30 million TIV in 2010