Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 13.3 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Portugal, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.9 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Portugal, that number is 20.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.0 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Portugal, the GDP per capita is $41,700 as of 2023.

be 10.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Portugal, however, that number is 16.4% as of 2021.

be 5.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Portugal, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

pay a 2.4 times higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Portugal, the top tax rate is 56.5% as of 2016.

Life

be 90.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Portugal, 12.0 women do as of 2020.

be 10.1% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Portugal, it is 95.9% as of 2021.

be 93.4% 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 Portugal, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2022.

have 59.1% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Portugal, there are 8.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

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 Portugal, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

be 12.5% 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 Portugal, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Portugal spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 3.9 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Portugal, that number is 10.6% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira.

Portugal: At a glance

Portugal is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 91,470 sq km. Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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How big is Portugal compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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