Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 11.5 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Costa Rica, that number is 25.7% 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 Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $22,100 as of 2022.

pay a 37.5% lower top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Costa Rica, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.

be 3.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 11.3% as of 2022.

be 39.3% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 25.5% as of 2022.

Life

be 82.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Costa Rica, 22.0 women do as of 2020.

be 12.5% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Costa Rica, it is 98.0% as of 2021.

be 77.8% 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 Costa Rica, on the other hand, 8.4 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 Costa Rica, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 33.9% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Costa Rica, about 83.0% 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 Costa Rica, 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. Costa Rica spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.9 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 7.9% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica: At a glance

Costa Rica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 51,060 sq km. Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
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How big is Costa Rica compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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