Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.5 years less

In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 15.2% more likely to be unemployed

In Nicaragua, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 32.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Nicaragua, 24.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

pay a 13.3% higher top tax rate

Nicaragua has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Venezuela, the top tax rate is 34.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 18.0% more likely to be literate

In Nicaragua, the literacy rate is 82.6% as of 2015. In Venezuela, it is 97.5% as of 2021.

be 3.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Nicaragua, approximately 78.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Venezuela, 259.0 women do as of 2020.

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 Venezuela, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 38.1% more likely to have internet access

In Nicaragua, approximately 57.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Venezuela, about 78.7% do as of 2022.

be 13.2% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Nicaragua, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Venezuela, 94% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 71.7% less on education

Nicaragua spends 4.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Venezuela spends 1.3% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

spend 55.8% less on healthcare

Nicaragua spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 3.1 times more coastline

Nicaragua has a total of 910 km of coastline. In Venezuela, that number is 2,800 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: General Directorate of Revenues, The World Factbook, 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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How big is Venezuela compared to Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.

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