Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 14.4 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In France, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In France, that number is 21.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.8 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,900 as of 2022, while in France, the GDP per capita is $45,900 as of 2022.

be 14.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In France, however, that number is 15.6% as of 2021.

be 91.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In France, that number is 7.3% as of 2022.

pay a 2.1 times higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In France, the top tax rate is 50.2% as of 2016.

Life

be 93.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In France, 8.0 women do as of 2020.

be 91.7% 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 France, on the other hand, 3.1 children do as of 2022.

have 44.9% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In France, there are 10.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 38.7% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In France, about 86.0% 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 France, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.4 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. France spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 4.5 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In France, that number is 12.2% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques.

France: At a glance

France is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 549,970 sq km. France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to take French forces out of NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper.
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How big is France compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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