Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.5 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Bangladesh, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 32.1% less likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Bangladesh, that number is 3.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 4.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Bangladesh, that number is 5.1% as of 2023.

pay a 25.0% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Bangladesh, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 19.7% 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 Bangladesh, on the other hand, 30.4 children do as of 2022.

be 14.0% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Bangladesh, it is 74.9% as of 2020.

have 12.6% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Bangladesh, there are 17.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 11.4% 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 Bangladesh, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 37.1% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Bangladesh, about 39.0% do as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: At a glance

Bangladesh is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 130,170 sq km. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region now referred to as Bangladesh began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won independence for Bangladesh in a brief war in 1971, during which at least 300,000 civilians died. The post-independence, AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections in 1991. The BNP and AL have alternately held power since then, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted, extending HASINA's term as prime minister. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has made great progress in food security since independence, and the economy has grown at an average of about 6 percent over the last two decades.
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How big is Bangladesh compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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