Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.7 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Laos, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

be 3.8 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.9 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 10.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 91.3% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 41.4% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

have 15.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 37.1% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 95.7% more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 2.0 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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