Table 1 Characteristics/background comparison of Afghan refugees residing in Iran and Germany
Countries Dimensions | Iran | Germany |
|---|---|---|
Population of Afghan refugees | 3.6 million, first asylum was 1979 | 148,000; major first asylums were 2014 |
Age of Afghan refugees | older/second-generation refugees | younger |
Gender of Afghan refugees | balanced distribution | predominantly male |
Language of host country | same/similar (Farsi and Pashto) | very different (German) |
Religion of host country | mostly Muslim | mainly Christian |
Culture of host country | similar | very different |
Modernity of host country | lower modernity, easier employment | higher modernity, harder to meet job requirements (e.g., education levels & specialties) |
Economy of host country | weaker – as developing country struggling with several economic sanctions | stronger – industrial/developed country |
Health system of host country | centralized, same refugee regulations/policies all over the country | decentralized, different refugee regulations/policies among provinces (e.g., health vouchers versus health electronic cards) |