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)