Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Brazil instead of Nicaragua, you would:

Health

live 1.1 years longer

In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Brazil, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.5 times more money

Nicaragua has a GDP per capita of $7,300 as of 2023, while in Brazil, the GDP per capita is $18,600 as of 2023.

be 83.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Nicaragua, 24.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Brazil, however, that number is 4.2% as of 2016.

be 65.6% more likely to be unemployed

In Nicaragua, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Brazil, that number is 8.0% as of 2023.

Life

be 14.6% more likely to be literate

In Nicaragua, the literacy rate is 82.6% as of 2015. In Brazil, it is 94.7% as of 2022.

be 30.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Nicaragua, approximately 19.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Brazil, on the other hand, 13.3 children do as of 2022.

have 19.5% fewer children

In Nicaragua, there are approximately 16.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brazil, there are 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Nicaragua, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 66% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Brazil, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 42.1% more likely to have internet access

In Nicaragua, approximately 57.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Brazil, about 81.0% do as of 2021.

be 19.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Nicaragua, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Brazil, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 30.4% more on education

Nicaragua spends 4.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Brazil spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 19.8% more on healthcare

Nicaragua spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Brazil, that number is 10.3% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 8.2 times more coastline

Nicaragua has a total of 910 km of coastline. In Brazil, that number is 7,491 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Brazil: At a glance

Brazil is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 8,358,140 sq km. Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than a half century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader, one of the first in the area to begin an economic recovery. High income inequality and crime remain pressing problems, as well as recent years' slow down in economic growth.
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How big is Brazil compared to Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.

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