Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 9.6 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Montenegro, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.4 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Montenegro, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.3 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Montenegro, the GDP per capita is $27,800 as of 2023.

pay a 62.5% lower top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Montenegro, the top tax rate is 9.0% as of 2016.

be 12.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Montenegro, that number is 15.2% as of 2023.

be 15.8% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Montenegro, however, that number is 21.2% as of 2020.

Life

be 95.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Montenegro, 6.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.7% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Montenegro, it is 99.0% as of 2021.

be 91.4% 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 Montenegro, on the other hand, 3.2 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 Montenegro, there are 10.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 32.3% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Montenegro, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

be 11.9% 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 Montenegro, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 4.2 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Montenegro, that number is 11.4% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Department of Public Revenues, Montenegro.

Montenegro: At a glance

Montenegro is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 13,452 sq km. The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006.
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