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Afghanistan Health

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Causes of death across Afghanistan are changing due to Population Increase, Life Expectancy rise and Living Standard.On this below article we provide graphical represntation of major causes of death in Afghanistan.

Highlights of Afghanistan BMI and Diet Compositions

Comprehensive data on food supply and consumption is published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Data was analyzed by The Global Graph and is published in these below Highlights, Graphs and Tables (Data Quality & Definations)
  • As per United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), average person in Afghanistan gets their caloric supply from :
    • Carbohydrates : 51.86%51.86%
    • Fat : 10.06%10.06%
    • Plant protein : 6.14%6.14%
    • Animal protein : 1.63%1.63%
  • 30.31% decrease in caloric supply : Currently Afghanistan gets 2090/kilocalories per person per day worth of caloric supply when compared to 2999/kilocalories per person per day in Year 1961
  • Cereals & Grains, Oils & Fats and Dairy & Eggs are three major diet compositions in Afghanistan
  • Wheat, Rice and Barley are three major Cereal preferences in Afghanistan
  • National and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on vegitable intake is to range between 200-250g per day and in Afghanistan average intake is 79.37 grams
  • Grapes, Oranges & Mandarines and Bananas are three major Fruit Types Intake in Afghanistan
  • National and World Health Organization (WHO) typically set a guideline of 200g Fruit Intake per day and in Afghanistan average Fruit intake is 93.29grams
  • In Afghanistan, average male height is in decreasing trend and female height is also in decreasing trend
  • 19.70% of population is suffering from obesity and this trend is continously increasing from last few years
  • Average Male BMI in Afghanistan is in range of normal and Average Female BMI is in range of normal (BMI = Body Mass Index - The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to 25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to 30.0 as 'obese')


Breakdown of the average per capita intake of cereals by specific cereal-based commodity types, measured in kilocalories per person per day. This figure measures the primary equivalent of all food products derived from a given commodity (e.g. "wheat" represents the primary equivalent of its derived products). Data refers to cereal food supply at the consumer level but does not account for consumer wastage in
Cereal Preferences in Afghanistan
RankCerealskcal/capita/day
1Wheat1369
2Rice141
3Barley26
4Maize21
5Oats0

This below table shows the Diet Compositions (Average per capita dietary energy supply by commodity groups, measured in kilocalories per person per day) in Afghanistan
Diet Compositions in Afghanistan
RankTypekilocalories per person per day
1Cereals & Grains1560
2Oils & Fats149
3Dairy & Eggs105
4Sugar87
5Meat68
7Pulses23
8Starchy Roots15
10Alcoholic Beverages0


Major Cause of Death



Cardiovascular diseases was major cause of death in Afghanistan with 80333 registered deaths (in year 2016) i.e. 29% of total deaths. Overall Cardiovascular diseases, Neonatal deaths and Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease were highest types of death causes in Afghanistan.
    Major Cause of Death in Afghanistan
  • Maximum number of deaths is seen in age group 15-49 with 90071 deaths (year 2016).
  • 36% kids below age 5 years die due to Neonatal disorders.
  • Road accidents, Lower respiratory infections and Drowning are the major cause of death in kids aging 5 - 14 years.
  • Cardiovascular disease, Road accidents and Cancers are the major cause of death in people aging 14 - 49 years.
  • Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases and Cancers are the major cause of death in people aging more than 50 years.
  • Overall its observed that 49% of people aging more than 50 years die due to Cardiovascular diseases.
Read more about Cardiovascular diseases

Major Cause of Deaths in Afghanistan (and it's count) Number of Deaths in Afghanistan - Age wise (only due to Major diseases)


Major Risk Factors of Death



  • Three Major factors of death in Afghanistan are High blood pressure, High blood sugar and Household air pollution. Every year around 3716 people die due to High blood pressure.
  • Child wasting and Low birth weight are the major risk factor of kids death aging under 5 years.
  • Household air pollution and Iron deficiency are the major risk factors of death of people aging between 5 to 14 years.
  • High body-mass index (obesity), High blood pressure and High total cholesterol are the death risk factors of people aging between 15 to 49 years.
  • High blood pressure, High blood sugar and High body-mass index (obesity) are the major death risk factors of people aging between 50 to 69 years.
  • High blood sugar is the major death risk factors for people aging more than 70 years.


Major Cause of Deaths in Afghanistan (and it's count)


Cancer Analysis



0.22% of Afghanistan population was suffering from cancer i.e. 31933 people (average of years 2011-2016). Highest number of cancer patients deaths were recorded due to Stomach cancer (Count : 2724) and Breast cancer was also concerning with 2710 deaths in a year. In last few years it has been observed that, people suffering from Stomach cancer have 14% of survival chance.Afghanistan was really successful in diagnosing Kidney cancer where 85% of people were cured.Highest number of cancer patients i.e. 12630 people were of age group 15-49 year olds.In 2016, 3153 were suffering from Stomach cancer out of which 2724 people were dead. This means 86.39% death rate of people suffering from Stomach cancer. This below data represents major cancer types in Afghanistan and number of deaths due to particular cancer types :

    Highlights of Cancer in Afghanistan :
  • 0.22 % of Afghanistan population is suffering from cancer
  • Highest number of deaths were registered due to Stomach cancer
  • Kidney cancer was most cured cancer in Afghanistan
  • Stomach cancer got lowest survival rate
Major Risk Factors of Death (count) in Afghanistan

Tables (Appendix)




Major Cause of Deaths in Afghanistan (and it's count)
Cause of Death Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Dementia 2903 1.03%
Cardiovascular diseases 80333 28.59%
Kidney disease 8048 2.86%
Respiratory disease 9922 3.53%
Liver disease 4086 1.45%
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease 21413 7.62%
Digestive disease 4079 1.45%
Hepatitis 385 0.14%
Cancers 20048 7.14%
Parkinson's disease 183 0.07%
Fire 581 0.21%
Malaria 2146 0.76%
Drowning 3227 1.15%
Homicide 6267 2.23%
HIV/AIDS 159 0.06%
Drug disorder 268 0.1%
Tuberculosis 13937 4.96%
Road incidents 15937 5.67%
Maternal deaths 5143 1.83%
Neonatal deaths 22445 7.99%
Alcohol disorder 139 0.05%
Natural disasters 0 0%
Diarrheal diseases 4910 1.75%
Kidney disease 8048 2.86%
Respiratory disease 9922 3.53%
Tuberculosis 13937 4.96%
Road incidents 15937 5.67%
Conflict 16502 5.87%
Cancers 20048 7.14%
Lower respiratory infections 20136.6415186 7.17%
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease 21413 7.62%
Neonatal deaths 22445 7.99%
Cardiovascular diseases 80333 28.59%



Afghanistan - Cause of Death in Age : Under 5 years
Cause Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Homicide 155 0.25%
Lower respiratory infections 296 0.47%
Congenital birth defects 302 0.48%
Diarrheal diseases 0 0%
Neonatal infections 49 0.08%
Drowning 4285 6.87%
Road accidents 1 0%
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease 22445 36%
Measles 753 1.21%
Malaria 234 0.38%
Digestive diseases 11 0.02%
Nutritional deficiencies 870 1.4%
Protein-energy malnutrition 410 0.66%
Cancers 122 0.2%
Tuberculosis 247 0.4%
Cardiovascular disease 39 0.06%
Kidney disease 353 0.57%
Homicide 700 1.12%
Fire 101 0.16%
Liver disease 173 0.28%
Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 190 0.3%
Hepatitis 11470 18.4%
HIV/AIDS 14608 23.43%
Drug use disorders 556 0.89%
Natural disasters 3973 6.37%



Afghanistan - Cause of Death in Age : 5 - 14 years
Cause Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Suicide 44 0.71%
Homicide 205 3.32%
Nutritional deficiencies 62 1%
Protein-energy malnutrition 57 0.92%
Natural disasters 0 0%
Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 52 0.84%
Diarrheal diseases 90 1.46%
Road accidents 1338 21.65%
Tuberculosis 340 5.5%
HIV/AIDS 2 0.03%
Drowning 772 12.49%
Malaria 186 3.01%
Fire 73 1.18%
Cancers 587 9.5%
Hepatitis 19 0.31%
Digestive diseases 144 2.33%
Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases 573 9.27%
Liver disease 86 1.39%
Respiratory disease 182 2.95%
Kidney disease 165 2.67%
Cardiovascular disease 247 4%
Lower respiratory infections 955 15.46%


Afghanistan - Cause of Death in Age : 15 - 49 years
Cause Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Suicide 1864 2.87%
Homicide 5535 8.51%
Nutritional deficiencies 135 0.21%
Protein-energy malnutrition 124 0.19%
Natural disasters 0 0%
Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 232 0.36%
Diarrheal diseases 213 0.33%
Road accidents 11872 18.25%
Tuberculosis 6252 9.61%
HIV/AIDS 127 0.2%
Drowning 1406 2.16%
Malaria 1326 2.04%
Fire 268 0.41%
Cancers 6569 10.1%
Hepatitis 158 0.24%
Digestive diseases 1061 1.63%
Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases 4706 7.23%
Liver disease 1210 1.86%
Respiratory disease 1724 2.65%
Kidney disease 1988 3.06%
Cardiovascular disease 16510 25.38%
Drug disorder 203 0.31%
Alcohol disorder 91 0.14%
Parkinson's disease 4 0.01%
Dementia 11 0.02%
Lower respiratory infections 1463 2.25%


Afghanistan - Cause of Death in Age : 50 - 69 years
Cause Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Suicide 249 0.33%
Homicide 344 0.46%
Nutritional deficiencies 56 0.08%
Protein-energy malnutrition 43 0.06%
Natural disasters 0 0%
Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 94 0.13%
Diarrheal diseases 115 0.15%
Road accidents 1721 2.31%
Tuberculosis 4201 5.64%
HIV/AIDS 18 0.02%
Drowning 156 0.21%
Malaria 189 0.25%
Fire 83 0.11%
Cancers 8591 11.54%
Hepatitis 138 0.19%
Digestive diseases 1347 1.81%
Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases 8847 11.88%
Liver disease 1895 2.55%
Respiratory disease 4315 5.8%
Kidney disease 3406 4.57%
Cardiovascular diseases 36528 49.06%
Dementia 511 0.69%
Parkinson's disease 35 0.05%
Drug disorder 44 0.06%
Alcohol disorder 41 0.06%
Lower respiratory infections 1492 2%


Afghanistan - Cause of Death in Age : 70 + years
Cause Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Suicide 91 0.17%
Homicide 28 0.05%
Nutritional deficiencies 81 0.15%
Protein-energy malnutrition 48 0.09%
Natural disasters 0 0%
Heat-related deaths (hot or cold exposure) 20 0.04%
Diarrheal diseases 207 0.39%
Road accidents 253 0.47%
Tuberculosis 2910 5.46%
HIV/AIDS 2 0%
Drowning 23 0.04%
Malaria 35 0.07%
Fire 34 0.06%
Cancers 4054 7.61%
Hepatitis 30 0.06%
Digestive diseases 1173 2.2%
Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases 6587 12.36%
Liver disease 794 1.49%
Respiratory disease 3584 6.72%
Kidney disease 2315 4.34%
Cardiovascular disease 26858 50.39%
Parkinson's disease 144 0.27%
Dementia 2382 4.47%
Drug use disorders 19 0.04%
Alcohol use disorders 7 0.01%
Lower respiratory infections 1620 3.04%


Major Risk Factors of Death (count) in Afghanistan
Major Risk Factors Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Unsafe water source 3716 1.14%
Poor sanitation 3124 0.96%
No access to handwashing facility 3798 1.17%
Household air pollution 34356 10.55%
Outdoor air pollution 26983 8.29%
Non-exclusive breastfeeding 1849 0.57%
Discontinued breastfeeding 72 0.02%
Child wasting 12316 3.78%
Child stunting 3958 1.22%
Low birth weight 10755 3.3%
Secondhand smoke 6645 2.04%
Alcohol use 85 0.03%
Drug use 1428 0.44%
Diet low in fruits 17626 5.41%
Diet low in vegetables 14711 4.52%
Unsafe sex 881 0.27%
Low physical activity 7468 2.29%
High blood sugar 46058 14.14%
High cholesterol 26789 8.23%
High body-mass index (obesity) 30633 9.41%
High blood pressure 48555 14.91%
Smoking 20952 6.43%
Iron deficiency 435 0.13%
Zinc deficiency 986 0.3%
Vitamin-A deficiency 679 0.21%
Low bone mineral density 799 0.25%


Afghanistan - Risk of Death in Age : Under 5 years
Risk Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Discontinued breastfeeding 72 0.14%
Non-exclusive breastfeeding 1849 3.59%
Child stunting 3958 7.68%
Low birth weight 10755 20.88%
Drug use 1 0%
No access to handwashing facility 3004 5.83%
Secondhand smoke 1374 2.67%
Poor sanitation 2726 5.29%
Unsafe water source 3242 6.29%
Household air pollution 6948 13.49%
Outdoor air pollution 5156 10.01%
High body-mass index (obesity) 12 0.02%
High blood pressure 2 0%
High blood sugar 96 0.19%
Child wasting 12316 23.91%
Iron deficiency 0 0%


Afghanistan - Risk of Death in Age : 5 - 14 years
Risk Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Drug use 0 0%
Alcohol use 1 0.06%
No access to handwashing facility 131 7.71%
Unsafe water source 68 4%
Unsafe sex 1 0.06%
Iron deficiency 433 25.47%
Secondhand smoke 91 5.35%
Household air pollution 469 27.59%
Outdoor air pollution 337 19.82%
High body-mass index (obesity) 14 0.82%
High blood sugar 93 5.47%
High blood pressure 4 0.24%
Poor sanitation 57 3.35%
Iron deficiency 1 0.06%


Afghanistan - Risk of Death in Age : 15 - 49 years
Risk Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Iron deficiency 433 0.69%
Low bone mineral density 188 0.3%
Drug use 776 1.24%
Alcohol use 465 0.74%
No access to handwashing facility 227 0.36%
Unsafe water source 162 0.26%
Poor sanitation 136 0.22%
Smoking 5889 9.4%
Secondhand smoke 1030 1.64%
Low physical activity 1152 1.84%
Diet low in fruits 5128 8.19%
Diet low in vegetables 4124 6.58%
Unsafe sex 452 0.72%
High body-mass index (obesity) 8502 13.57%
Household air pollution 6711 10.71%
Outdoor air pollution 5403 8.63%
High total cholesterol 7000 11.18%
High blood pressure 8466 13.52%
High blood sugar 6391 10.2%


Afghanistan - Risk of Death in Age : 50 - 69 years
Risk Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Iron deficiency 1 0%
Low bone mineral density 353 0.26%
Drug use 563 0.42%
Alcohol use -166 -0.12%
No access to handwashing facility 196 0.15%
Poor sanitation 73 0.05%
Unsafe sex 330 0.25%
Smoking 11006 8.22%
Secondhand smoke 2475 1.85%
Unsafe water source 87 0.06%
Diet low in vegetables 7073 5.28%
Diet low in fruits 8403 6.27%
Low physical activity 3443 2.57%
Outdoor air pollution 10255 7.66%
Household air pollution 12803 9.56%
High body-mass index (obesity) 15795 11.79%
High blood sugar 23399 17.47%
High total cholesterol 13844 10.33%
High blood pressure 24020 17.93%


Afghanistan - Risk of Death in Age : 70+ years
Risk Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Iron deficiency 1 0%
Low bone mineral density 258 0.35%
Drug use 88 0.12%
Alcohol use -216 -0.29%
Smoking 4058 5.44%
Secondhand smoke 1674 2.24%
Household air pollution 7425 9.95%
Outdoor air pollution 5832 7.82%
No access to handwashing facility 241 0.32%
Poor sanitation 132 0.18%
Unsafe water source 157 0.21%
Unsafe sex 97 0.13%
Low physical activity 2873 3.85%
Diet low in vegetables 3514 4.71%
Diet low in fruits 4095 5.49%
High cholesterol 5945 7.97%
High blood pressure 16062 21.52%
High blood sugar 16079 21.55%
High body-mass index (obesity) 6309 8.45%


Afghanistan - Number of Deaths by Cancer Type
Cancer Type Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Liver cancer Patients : 839 | Deaths : 242 28.84%
Breast cancer Patients : 11067 | Deaths : 2710 24.49%
Larynx cancer Patients : 771 | Deaths : 341 44.23%
Kidney cancer Patients : 869 | Deaths : 128 14.73%
Thyroid cancer Patients : 769 | Deaths : 203 26.4%
Ovarian cancer Patients : 663 | Deaths : 236 35.6%
Stomach cancer Patients : 3153 | Deaths : 2724 86.39%
Uterine cancer Patients : 1190 | Deaths : 333 27.98%
Bladder cancer Patients : 1168 | Deaths : 436 37.33%
Cervical cancer Patients : 3756 | Deaths : 737 19.62%
Prostate cancer Patients : 1057 | Deaths : 456 43.14%
Testicular cancer Patients : 297 | Deaths : 72 24.24%
Pancreatic cancer Patients : 444 | Deaths : 249 56.08%
Esophageal cancer Patients : 524 | Deaths : 439 83.78%
Nasopharynx cancer Patients : 603 | Deaths : 162 26.87%
Colon & rectum cancer Patients : 3354 | Deaths : 1527 45.53%
Non-melanoma skin cancer Patients : 137 | Deaths : 86 62.77%
Lip & oral cancer Patients : 710 | Deaths : 161 22.68%
Brain & nervous system cancer Patients : 1300 | Deaths : 627 48.23%
Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer Patients : 2281 | Deaths : 357 15.65%
Gallbladder & biliary tract cancer Patients : 201 | Deaths : 104 51.74%


Afghanistan - Number of Deaths due to Cancer - Age Wise
Age Number of Deaths % of Total Deaths
Under-5s 1206 3.78%
5-14 year olds 1161 3.64%
15-49 year olds 12630 39.55%
50-69 year olds 12349 38.67%
70+ year olds 4586 14.36%


Source :
http://www.gapminder.org/data/documentation/gd004/
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWDRS/Resources/477365-1327525347307/8392086-1327528510568/WDR09_bookweb_1.pdf

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