Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Syria instead of Ethiopia, you would:
Health
live 6.0 years longer
In Ethiopia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Syria, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022.
be 6.2 times more likely to be obese
In Ethiopia, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Syria, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 20.8% more money
Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $2,400 as of 2022, while in Syria, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2015.
pay a 37.1% lower top tax rate
Ethiopia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Syria, the top tax rate is 22.0% as of 2016.
be 4.0 times more likely to be unemployed
In Ethiopia, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Syria, that number is 13.8% as of 2022.
be 3.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Ethiopia, 23.5% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Syria, however, that number is 82.5% as of 2014.
Life
be 88.8% less likely to die during childbirth
In Ethiopia, approximately 267.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Syria, 30.0 women do as of 2020.
be 66.8% more likely to be literate
In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 51.8% as of 2017. In Syria, it is 86.4% as of 2015.
be 52.6% 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 Syria, on the other hand, 15.9 children do as of 2022.
have 26.7% fewer children
In Ethiopia, there are approximately 29.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Syria, there are 21.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 64.1% more likely to have access to electricity
In Ethiopia, approximately 54% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 43% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Syria, that number is 89% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 74% in rural areas) as of 2021.
be 2.7 times more likely to have internet access
In Ethiopia, approximately 17.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Syria, about 46.6% do as of 2022.
be 30.6% 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 Syria, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 13.3% more on education
Ethiopia spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Syria spends 5.1% of total GDP on education as of 2009.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Syria, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority.
Syria: At a glance
How big is Syria compared to Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.