Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Colombia instead of Ethiopia, you would:

Health

live 6.6 years longer

In Ethiopia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.0 times more likely to be obese

In Ethiopia, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Colombia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.7 times more money

Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $2,800 as of 2023, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Ethiopia, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

be 55.7% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Ethiopia, 23.5% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Colombia, however, that number is 36.6% as of 2022.

Life

be 71.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Ethiopia, approximately 267.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

be 84.6% more likely to be literate

In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 51.8% as of 2017. In Colombia, it is 95.6% as of 2020.

be 65.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Ethiopia, approximately 33.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

have 49.7% fewer children

In Ethiopia, there are approximately 29.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 81.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Ethiopia, approximately 55% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 43% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Ethiopia, approximately 17.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Colombia, about 73.0% do as of 2021.

be 27.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Ethiopia, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 98% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Ethiopia spends 3.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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