Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.7 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 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 Colombia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.2 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

be 8.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

be 100.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Colombia, however, that number is 36.6% as of 2022.

pay a 37.5% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Colombia, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 40.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

be 69.2% 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 Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

have 24.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 17.7% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Colombia, about 73.0% do as of 2021.

be 10.0% 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 Colombia, that number is 98% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.1 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Colombia spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 3.3 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN).

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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