Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Argentina instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 10.2 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Argentina, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.3 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Argentina, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.8 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,900 as of 2022, while in Argentina, the GDP per capita is $22,500 as of 2022.

be 78.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Argentina, that number is 6.8% as of 2022.

be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Argentina, however, that number is 39.2% as of 2022.

pay a 45.8% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Argentina, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 64.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Argentina, 45.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.7% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Argentina, it is 99.0% as of 2018.

be 75.3% 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 Argentina, on the other hand, 9.3 children do as of 2022.

have 23.2% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Argentina, there are 15.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 40.3% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Argentina, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

be 11.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Laos, approximately 89% of people have improved drinking water access (97% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Argentina, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2015.

Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Argentina spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 3.7 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Argentina, that number is 10.0% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Federal Administration of Public Revenue.

Argentina: At a glance

Argentina is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 2,736,690 sq km. In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. In January 2013, Argentina assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.
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How big is Argentina compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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