Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 13.8 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.2 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.4 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $54,100 as of 2023.

be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.1% as of 2023.

pay a 87.5% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In United Kingdom, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2016.

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 United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 89.9% 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 United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 45.5% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 56.5% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In United Kingdom, about 97.0% 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 United Kingdom, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.4 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. United Kingdom spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 4.4 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 12.0% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, HM Revenue & Customs.

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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