Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 7.6 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Romania, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.2 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Romania, that number is 22.5% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 4.8 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Romania, the GDP per capita is $40,500 as of 2023.

pay a 33.3% lower top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Romania, the top tax rate is 16.0% as of 2016.

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Romania, that number is 5.6% 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 Romania, however, that number is 21.2% as of 2021.

Life

be 92.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Romania, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.5% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Romania, it is 98.9% as of 2021.

be 84.5% 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 Romania, on the other hand, 5.8 children do as of 2022.

have 57.1% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Romania, there are 8.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 35.5% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Romania, about 84.0% do as of 2021.

be 12.6% 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 Romania, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 60.9% more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Romania spends 3.7% 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 Romania, that number is 6.3% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF).

Romania: At a glance

Romania is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 229,891 sq km. The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
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How big is Romania compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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