Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 5.1 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Venezuela, that number is 25.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 80.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

pay a 41.7% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Venezuela, the top tax rate is 34.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 11.9% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Venezuela, it is 97.5% as of 2021.

be 53.1% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 17.7 children do as of 2022.

be 2.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Venezuela, 259.0 women do as of 2020.

have 15.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Venezuela, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 26.9% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Venezuela, about 78.7% do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 43.5% less on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Venezuela spends 1.3% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

spend 40.7% more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Ministerio del Poder Popular de Finanzas, SENIAT.

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
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