Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 13.7 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.2 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Belgium, that number is 22.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.7 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,900 as of 2022, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $53,300 as of 2022.

be 27.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Belgium, however, that number is 13.2% as of 2021.

be 45.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 5.6% as of 2022.

pay a 2.2 times higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 96.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 91.6% 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 Belgium, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2022.

have 45.5% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 46.8% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Belgium, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

be 12.6% 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 Belgium, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.9 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 4.1 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance.

Belgium: At a glance

Belgium is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 30,278 sq km. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
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How big is Belgium compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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