Updated
Overview
Afghanistan has 18% more people than Uzbekistan: 43.84 million against 37.05 million (2025).
Uzbekistan's economy is 8.3 times the size of Afghanistan's, at $147.04B versus $17.78B.
Per person, Uzbekistan is the wealthier of the two: $3,968 against $417 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Afghanistan | Uzbekistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $17.78B | Higher: $147.04B | 2024 / 2025 | $17.15B / $114.97B |
| GDP per capita | $417 | Higher: $3,968 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.9% | Higher: 7.7% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -6.6% | 8.8% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 9.6% |
| Unemployment | 13.4% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 29 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $172 | Higher: $351 | 2020 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $72 | Higher: $83 | 2020 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 43.84 million | 37.05 million | 2025 | 49.47 million / 37.02 million |
| Population growth | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.3 yrs | 27.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.66 | 3.45 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 72.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 26% | 51% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 16% | Higher: 90% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 652,230 km² | 447,400 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 82.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 11 Mt | 139 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 3.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $278.25M | $1.44B | 2021 / 2018 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 2.9% | 2021 / 2018 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 165,000 | 68,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Uzbekistan is growing much faster: 7.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Uzbekistan runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus -6.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Uzbekistan: $351 against $172 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Afghanistan is the far younger society: median age 17.3 versus 27.0 years.
Life expectancy is 6.2 years longer in Uzbekistan (72.5 vs 66.3).
Uzbekistan is considerably more urbanized: 51% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in Uzbekistan (90% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Afghanistan is 46% larger than Uzbekistan: 652,230 km² versus 447,400 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Uzbekistan spends 5.2 times as much on defence as Afghanistan: $1.44B versus $278.25M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Uzbekistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.9% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Afghanistan fields the larger armed forces: 165,000 personnel against 68,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Afghanistan bigger than Uzbekistan?
- Afghanistan is larger by land area. Afghanistan covers 652,230 km² while Uzbekistan covers 447,400 km², so Afghanistan is 46% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Afghanistan or Uzbekistan?
- Afghanistan has the larger population: 43.84 million versus 37.05 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Afghanistan richer than Uzbekistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Uzbekistan is richer: $3,968 against $417. Total GDP tells the same story: $17.78B for Afghanistan versus $147.04B for Uzbekistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Afghanistan or Uzbekistan?
- Uzbekistan spends more: $1.44B versus $278.25M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).