Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 8.1 years less

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Niger, that number is 60 years (59 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 53.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Niger, that number is 0.6% as of 2023.

make 81.0% less money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Niger, the GDP per capita is $1,600 as of 2023.

be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Niger, however, that number is 40.8% as of 2018.

Life

have 2.4 times more children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Niger, there are 46.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Niger, 441.0 women do as of 2020.

be 57.2% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Niger, it is 37.3% as of 2018.

be 76.8% more 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 Niger, on the other hand, 66.8 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 80.5% less likely to have access to electricity

In Laos, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Niger, that number is 20% of people on average (66% in urban areas, and 9% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 64.5% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Niger, about 22.0% do as of 2021.

be 22.7% less 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 Niger, that number is 69% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 65.2% more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Niger spends 3.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.3 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Niger, that number is 6.2% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Niger: At a glance

Niger is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 1,266,700 sq km. Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as president. In February 2010, a military coup deposed TANDJA, immediately suspended the constitution, and dissolved the Cabinet. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou emerged victorious from a crowded field in the election following the coup and was inaugurated in April 2011. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Movement for Justice, a predominantly ethnic Tuareg rebel group, emerged in February 2007, and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 ended the rebellion. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
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