Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Zimbabwe instead of Laos, you would:
Health
be 39.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Laos, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, that number is 11.9% of people as of 2020.
live 4.8 years less
In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Zimbabwe, that number is 63 years (61 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2022.
be 2.9 times more likely to be obese
In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zimbabwe, that number is 15.5% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 58.3% less money
Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Zimbabwe, the GDP per capita is $3,500 as of 2023.
be 7.4 times more likely to be unemployed
In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Zimbabwe, that number is 8.8% as of 2023.
be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Zimbabwe, however, that number is 38.3% as of 2019.
pay a 2.1 times higher top tax rate
Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Zimbabwe, the top tax rate is 50.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 24.5% 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 Zimbabwe, on the other hand, 28.5 children do as of 2022.
have 45.5% more children
In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, there are 28.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.8 times more likely to die during childbirth
In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, 357.0 women do as of 2020.
Basic Needs
be 49.9% 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 Zimbabwe, that number is 50% of people on average (85% in urban areas, and 32% in rural areas) as of 2022.
be 43.5% less likely to have internet access
In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Zimbabwe, about 35.0% do as of 2021.
be 13.4% 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 Zimbabwe, that number is 77% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 67% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 56.5% more on education
Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Zimbabwe spends 3.6% of total GDP on education as of 2018.
spend 25.9% more on healthcare
Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Zimbabwe: At a glance
How big is Zimbabwe compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.