Afghanistan (Islamic State of Afghanistan)

Afghanistan Islamic State of Afghanistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	188th best
Capital	Kabul
Land Area	652 230km21
Location	Asia
Population	37.2m2
Life Expectancy	61.98yrs (2017)3
GNI	$1 824 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AF, AFG, 45
Internet Domain	.af6
Currency	Afghani (AFN)7
Telephone	+938

1. Overview
2. Afghanistan National and Social Development
3. Afghanistan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Afghanistan's Health
6. Afghanistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Afghanistan's Modernity and Learning
8. National Culture
9. Peace Versus Instability
10. Economic Inequality and Poverty
11. Religion and Beliefs
12. Links

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1. Overview

#afghanistan #buddhism

“Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. KARZAI was re-elected in August 2009 for a second term. Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges for the Afghan Government.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A battered, but beautiful and proud country, Afghanistan´s road to recovery remains uncertain, yet the resilience of its people and beauty of its landscapes endures. [...] Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been a country united against invaders but divided against itself. ... Its allure, spread by Great Game romantics and travel literature alike, has only been heightened by its inaccessibility over the last 30 years. ... Old Silk Road oases recall a rich history of Buddhist and Islamic empires, while the mightily rugged Hindu Kush Mountains that bisect the country are as beautiful as Afghan hospitality is famously warm. [...] For hardy travellers with a taste for adventures, these charms still beckon.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Afghanistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
179	Congo, DR	0.479
180	Afghanistan	0.478
181	Sierra Leone	0.477
182	Guinea	0.465
183	Yemen	0.455
184	Burkina Faso	0.449
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
176	Mali	$2 133
177	Burkina Faso	$2 118
178	Guinea-Bissau	$1 908
179	Afghanistan	$1 824
180	Eritrea	$1 729
181	Sierra Leone	$1 622
182	Madagascar	$1 484
183	Malawi	$1 466
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Norway	28.6
2	Denmark	30.0
3	Sweden	30.7
	...
185	Angola	127.9
186	Congo, DR	128.2
187	Nauru	129.2
188	Afghanistan	131.3
189	Central African Rep.	131.6
190	Eritrea	134.5
191	Chad	134.7
192	Equatorial Guinea	135.0
	Asia Avg	87.7
	World Avg	86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Afghanistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Afghanistan's population is predicted to rise to 53.27 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 6.03. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
35	Sudan	41.8m
36	Iraq	38.4m
37	Poland	37.9m
38	Afghanistan	37.2m
39	Canada	37.1m
40	Morocco	36.0m
41	Saudi Arabia	33.7m
42	Uzbekistan	32.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
173	Uganda	5.95
174	Malawi	5.98
175	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	5.99
176	Afghanistan	6.03
177	Mali	6.16
178	Zambia	6.30
179	Somalia	6.30
180	Niger	6.96
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better14
Pos.		2016 Per 10014
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
7	Eritrea	04.9
8=	Gambia	04.9
9	Angola	05.0
10=	Afghanistan	05.0
10=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12	Nigeria	05.1
13=	Qatar	05.1
14	Somalia	05.4
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.		2017 %15
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
175	Solomon Islands	0.4%
176	Papua New Guinea	0.4%
177	India	0.4%
178	Afghanistan	0.4%
179	Haiti	0.4%
180	Brazil	0.4%
181	Eritrea	0.3%
182	Somalia	0.3%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants16
Pos.		2010 %16
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
77	Kuwait	8.5%
78	Ecuador	8.3%
79	Poland	8.3%
80	Afghanistan	8.1%
81	Paraguay	7.9%
82	Russia	7.9%
83	Mali	7.6%
84	UK	7.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Afghanistan #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Sweden	9.0
2	Norway	14.5
3	Denmark	14.5
	...
183=	Palestine	138.0
183=	Kiribati	138.0
185	Eritrea	139.5
186	Afghanistan	140.6
187	Djibouti	140.6
188	Comoros	140.8
	Asia Avg	99.9
	World Avg	87.9
q=199.

Afghanistan is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Afghanistan does better than average in speed of uptake of HR treaties₁₈. But that's it. Afghanistan has problems. It does worse than average in terms of its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₉, supporting press freedom₂₀ and in LGBT equality₂₁. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, opposing gender inequality₂₃ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in freethought₂₄ (amongst the worst in Asia). Kandahar province in particular is noteworthy for the use of truly horrible methods of torture and violence by police officials, and over half of the (many) cases of violence against journalists involve government officials and security staff₂₅. Since the withdrawal of coalition troops led by the US in 2021, the Taliban re-instated Sharia Law, any concept of Human Rights has been abandoned; with women and religious minorities being notable victims of a modern wave of oppression₂₆.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Afghanistan

5. Afghanistan's Health

#Afghanistan #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Hong Kong	18.3
2	Maldives	41.0
3	Singapore	42.6
	...
41=	Kazakhstan	98.1
42	Azerbaijan	100.0
43	Syria	101.3
44=	Afghanistan	103.8
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	105.6
46	Yemen	112.0
47	Philippines	112.9
48	Laos	115.9
49	Palestine	116.7
	Asia Avg	80.1
q=50.

Health (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
	...
132	Bolivia	103.4
133	Uruguay	103.6
134=	Guatemala	103.8
134=	Afghanistan	103.8
136	Romania	104.1
137=	Tonga	104.1
138	Guinea	104.5
139=	Malawi	104.5
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₂₈.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₈.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Afghanistan is a pretty unhealthy country. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 for its alcohol consumption rate₂₉ and in its smoking rate₃₀ (amongst the best in Asia). However Afghanistan performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₁ (one of the worst in Asia), its adolescent birth rate₂₃ (one of the worst in Asia) and in its average life expectancy₁₁ (the lowest in Asia). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its fertility rate₁₃ (the highest in Asia) and in its immunizations take-up₃₂ (one of the worst in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Afghanistan in 1990 was 46yrs, much lower than the global average of 64.6. But it improved greatly, by +17.6yrs, in the 30 years from then, well over double the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better29
Pos.		2016 Per Capita29
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10=	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12=	Iraq	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
173	Uganda	5.95
174	Malawi	5.98
175	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	5.99
176	Afghanistan	6.03
177	Mali	6.16
178	Zambia	6.30
179	Somalia	6.30
180	Niger	6.96
	Asia Avg	2.46
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Smoking Rates Lower is better30
Pos.		201430
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
13	Tonga	81
14	Mozambique	82
15	Nepal	83
16	Afghanistan	84
17	Lesotho	88
18	Trinidad & Tobago	97
19	Burundi	98
20	Tanzania	101
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
128	Gabon	128
129	Ivory Coast	129
130	Mongolia	130
131	Afghanistan	131
132	Suriname	132
133	Grenada	133
134	Montenegro	134
135	Iraq	135
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better33
Pos.		2016 %33
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
9=	Eritrea	22.0
10	Burundi	22.2
11	Uganda	22.4
12	Afghanistan	23.0
13	Chad	23.1
14	Burkina Faso	23.2
15	Sri Lanka	23.3
16	Malawi	23.4
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better23
Pos.		2015 Per 100023
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
138	Bolivia	70.8
139	Nepal	71.9
140	Cape Verde	73.4
141	Afghanistan	74.0
142	Sudan	74.0
143	Panama	74.5
144	Ecuador	75.9
145	Namibia	76.8
	Asia Avg	29.9
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better32
Pos.		2015 Avg %32
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
179	Afghanistan	70.6
180	Niger	69.7
181	Samoa	68.1
182	Yemen	67.4
183	Papua New Guinea	66.3
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Afghanistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)34
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank34
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Sri Lanka	49.0
	...
43	UAE	114.4
44	Kuwait	115.4
45	Uzbekistan	118.5
46	Afghanistan	120.3
47	Brunei	121.5
48	Iraq	122.5
49	Tajikistan	125.0
50	Bahrain	128.0
51	Palestine	147.5
	Asia Avg	88.8
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)34
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank34
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
173	Uzbekistan	118.5
174	Zimbabwe	119.0
175	Bosnia & Herzegovina	120.0
176	Afghanistan	120.3
177	St Vincent & Grenadines	121.0
178	Brunei	121.5
179	Iraq	122.5
180	Montenegro	124.3
	World Avg	85.7
q=188.

With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Afghanistan is 13rd-worst in the world. This rank is calculated from 5 data sets. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 for annual meat consumption per person₃₅ (amongst the best in Asia). It does better than average for its forested percent change 1990-2015₃₆. Afghanistan does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₃₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for its environmental performance₃₈ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 Higher is better36
Pos.		2015 %36
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
	...
78	Sweden	+00.8
79	Mongolia	+00.1
80	Japan	00.0
81=	Afghanistan	00.0
81=	Yemen	00.0
81=	Tuvalu	00.0
81=	Libya	00.0
81=	Tonga	00.0
	Asia Avg	+07.0
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

Environmental Performance Higher is better38
Pos.		201838
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
165	Eritrea	39.3
166	Mauritania	39.2
167	Benin	38.2
168	Afghanistan	37.7
169	Pakistan	37.5
170	Angola	37.4
171	Central African Rep.	36.4
172	Niger	35.7
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		0 Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
183	Serbia	2002 May 30
184	Kuwait	2002 Oct 31
185	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2002 Nov 24
186	Afghanistan	2002 Dec 18
187	Tuvalu	2003 Mar 20
188	Thailand	2004 Jan 29
189	Montenegro	2006 Jun 03
190	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2007 Jan 08
	Asia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better37
Pos.		2011 %37
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
121	Liberia	23.1%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better35
Pos.		2021 kg35
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
13	Togo	09.4
14	Kenya	10.3
15	Mozambique	10.4
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Afghanistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #religion #religiosity #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Taiwan	10.0
2	Japan	21.9
3=	S. Korea	24.0
	...
43	Bangladesh	112.9
44	Laos	115.2
45	Iraq	121.8
46	Syria	123.5
47	Myanmar (Burma)	127.0
48	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	129.0
49	Yemen	134.4
50	Afghanistan	136.7
51	Cambodia	144.6
	Asia Avg	79.0
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2020)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
	...
181	Yemen	134.4
182=	Mauritania	134.7
182=	Congo, DR	134.7
184	Afghanistan	136.7
185	Lesotho	137.2
186	Congo, (Brazzaville)	137.4
187	Burundi	139.0
188	Madagascar	142.5
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

In 1990, education in Afghanistan was woefully short - the average person could expect just 2.5 years, a quarter of the global average. ₄₀

Secondary Education Higher is better41
Pos.		201841
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
147	Benin	26.5%
148	Sierra Leone	26.3%
149	Ivory Coast	26.1%
150	Afghanistan	26.1%
151	Myanmar (Burma)	25.8%
152	Central African Rep.	22.1%
153	Malawi	21.8%
154	Cambodia	21.3%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better42
Pos.		2021 Years42
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
160	Liberia	10.4
161	Papua New Guinea	10.4
162	Solomon Islands	10.3
163	Afghanistan	10.3
164	Marshall Islands	10.2
165	Mozambique	10.2
166	Uganda	10.1
167	Laos	10.1
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
156	Tanzania	156
157	Equatorial Guinea	157
158	Guyana	158
159	Afghanistan	159
160	Indonesia	160
161	Bolivia	161
162	Iraq	162
163	Angola	163
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better43
Pos.		2018 %43
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better44
Pos.		200644
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
76=	Venezuela	84
76=	Colombia	84
76=	Jordan	84
76=	Afghanistan	84
76=	UAE	84
76=	Iran	84
76=	Pakistan	84
76=	Panama	84
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better45
Pos.		201645
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
180	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8%
181=	Togo	7%
181=	Comoros	7%
183	Afghanistan	7%
184	Malawi	7%
185	Mozambique	6%
186	Benin	6%
187	Tanzania	5%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better46
Pos.		201346
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
63	Uganda	1.44
64	Ukraine	1.44
65	Nepal	1.45
66	Afghanistan	1.45
67	Germany	1.46
68	Netherlands	1.47
69	Rwanda	1.50
70	Tanzania	1.50
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better47
Pos.		2022 %47
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
118	Portugal	26.0
119	Lebanon	24.0
120	Egypt	23.0
121	S. Korea	22.0
122=	Afghanistan	21.0
122=	Belgium	21.0
124	Japan	20.0
125	Cambodia	19.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better48
Pos.		2022 Points48
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
152	Guatemala	24.0
153=	Nigeria	24.0
153=	Cambodia	24.0
153=	Afghanistan	24.0
153=	Tajikistan	24.0
157	Zimbabwe	23.0
158=	Myanmar (Burma)	23.0
158=	Azerbaijan	23.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Afghanistan has a poor long-term recvord on corruption. It declined in particular in the 2000s, becoming the 2nd-worst country in the world in terms of perceived corruption in 2009, and throughout the 2010s scored 3rd-worst on average, after Somalia and North Korea.

Happiness Higher is better49
Pos.		2018 Score49
1	Finland	7.6
2	Norway	7.6
3	Denmark	7.6
	...
142	Angola	3.8
143	Madagascar	3.8
144	Zimbabwe	3.7
145	Afghanistan	3.6
146	Botswana	3.6
147	Malawi	3.6
148	Haiti	3.6
149	Liberia	3.5
	Asia Avg	5.29
	World Avg	5.38
q=156.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
112	Swaziland	112
113	Argentina	113
114	Qatar	114
115	Afghanistan	115
116	Ivory Coast	116
117	Panama	117
118	Colombia	118
119	Brazil	119
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
137	Yemen	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Antigua & Barbuda	139
140	Afghanistan	140
141	Belize	141
142	Slovakia	142
143	Tanzania	143
144	St Vincent & Grenadines	144
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better50
Pos.		2023 Score50
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
163	Afghanistan	3.45
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
149	Bosnia & Herzegovina	149
150	Seychelles	150
151	Sierra Leone	151
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
132	Azerbaijan	132
133	Togo	133
134	St Vincent & Grenadines	134
135	Afghanistan	135
136	Trinidad & Tobago	136
137	Nigeria	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Mali	139
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better51
Pos.		2019 Score51
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
148	Nigeria	8.60
149	Iraq	9.24
150	Afghanistan	9.60
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better52
Pos.		201952
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
154	Zambia	26.50
155	Uganda	27.20
156	Sudan	27.40
157	Afghanistan	28.30
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better53
Pos.		2018 Severity53
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
76	Mauritania	.261
77	Zambia	.261
78	Uganda	.269
79	Afghanistan	.272
80	Tanzania	.273
81	Sudan	.279
82	Angola	.282
83	Gambia	.286
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)43
Pos.		Lower is better %43
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95	Morocco	91
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)54
Pos.		Higher is better %54
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
113=	Gambia	0
113=	Kenya	0
113=	Ethiopia	0
113=	Afghanistan	0
113=	Egypt	0
113=	Liberia	0
113=	Libya	0
113=	Ivory Coast	0
113=	Pakistan	0
113=	Niger	0
113=	Saudi Arabia	0
113=	Rwanda	0
113=	Cameroon	0
113=	Philippines	0
113=	Kuwait	0
113=	Madagascar	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₅₅:

Christian	0.1%
Muslim	99%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%₅₆.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: There has been no freedom of religious beliefs since the Taliban took comprehensive control in 1996, excepting some areas nominally under the control of coalition forces during the Afghan war 2001-2014. Almost anyone who is not a Muslim has either fled, or now hides their identity, else they face violent persecution.₂₆

When it comes to religious freedom and persecution, sociologists Grim & Finke place Afghanistan into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries. In this category, severe restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of belief stem simultaneously from top-down pressure from government and institutionalized religion, and from bottom-up grassroots movements that often go even further than the government in harrassing those who do not believe the right things (2011)₅₇. The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₅₈, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Afghanistan states:

“The constitution states that Islam is the "religion of the state" and that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam." The constitution and other laws and policies restrict freedom of religion or belief and, in practice, the government enforces these restrictions. Afghanistan's constitutional reliance on Sharia mandates the government to punish alleged blasphemers and apostates with sentences as serious as death by hanging. Non-Muslim minority groups, which together constitute approximately 1 percent of the population, are frequent targets of discrimination and persecution. The constitution requires that the president and vice president be Muslim.

Cases of Discrimination

In January 2008, the Afghan Senate supported the death penalty for the 23-year old journalist Sayed Pervez Kambaksh for blasphemy. He downloaded and distributed an article (written by Arash "The Atheist" Bikhoda) that critically discussed certain Qur'an verses about women. In October 2008, Kambaksh's sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment. In August 2009, Kambaksh left Afghanistan after a grant of amnesty by President Hamid Karzai.

”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₅₉

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Afghanistan: 4.2. Freedom of Thought