If you lived in Papua New Guinea instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 1.3 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.0 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 21.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 50.0% less money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Papua New Guinea, the GDP per capita is $4,200 as of 2023.

be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Papua New Guinea, that number is 2.6% as of 2023.

be 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Papua New Guinea, however, that number is 37.0% as of 2002.

pay a 75.0% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Papua New Guinea, the top tax rate is 42.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 11.1% 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 Papua New Guinea, on the other hand, 33.6 children do as of 2022.

have 41.9% more children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Papua New Guinea, there are 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 52.4% more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Papua New Guinea, 192.0 women do as of 2020.

be 26.3% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Papua New Guinea, it is 64.2% as of 2015.

Basic Needs

be 81.0% 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 Papua New Guinea, that number is 19% of people on average (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 48.4% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Papua New Guinea, about 32.0% do as of 2021.

be 46.5% 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 Papua New Guinea, that number is 48% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 39.1% less on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of total GDP on education as of 2020.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: At a glance

Papua New Guinea (sometimes abbreviated PNG) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 452,860 sq km. The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
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How big is Papua New Guinea compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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