Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in American Samoa instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 7.2 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 33.3% more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in American Samoa, the GDP per capita is $11,200 as of 2016.

be 25.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In American Samoa, that number is 29.8% as of 2005.

Life

be 73.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Laos, approximately 37.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In American Samoa, on the other hand, 10.1 children do as of 2022.

have 20.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In American Samoa, there are 15.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 12.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Laos, approximately 89% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In American Samoa, 100% of people do as of 2020.

be 41.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In Laos, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 59% of people on average (60% in urban areas, and 45% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 35.0% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In American Samoa, about 40.3% do as of 2021.

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

American Samoa: At a glance

American Samoa (sometimes abbreviated AS) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 224 sq km. Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
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How big is American Samoa compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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