Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.5 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 10.4 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 55.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 78.5% more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,900 as of 2022, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $14,100 as of 2021.

be 55.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

be 36.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

be 10.9% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Palau, it is 96.6% as of 2015.

be 70.1% 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 Palau, on the other hand, 11.3 children do as of 2022.

have 41.4% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 12.3% 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 Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 40.0% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 3.0 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Palau spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 6.8 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 18.4% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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