Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Paraguay instead of Belgium, you would:

Health

live 3.5 years less

In Belgium, the average life expectancy is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022. In Paraguay, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 75.3% less money

Belgium has a GDP per capita of $63,600 as of 2023, while in Paraguay, the GDP per capita is $15,700 as of 2023.

be 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Belgium, 12.3% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Paraguay, however, that number is 24.7% as of 2022.

Life

have 47.2% more children

In Belgium, there are approximately 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Paraguay, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 14.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Belgium, approximately 5.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Paraguay, 71.0 women do as of 2020.

be 7.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In Belgium, approximately 3.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Paraguay, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 15.4% less likely to have internet access

In Belgium, approximately 91.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Paraguay, about 77.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 50.7% less on education

Belgium spends 6.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Paraguay spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 31.5% less on healthcare

Belgium spends 11.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Paraguay, that number is 7.6% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Paraguay: At a glance

Paraguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 397,302 sq km. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
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How big is Paraguay compared to Belgium? See an in-depth size comparison.

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