Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Colombia instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 5.5 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 4.5 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

pay a 21.4% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Colombia, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

be 3.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

Life

be 60.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

be 48.9% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Colombia, it is 95.6% as of 2020.

be 65.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

have 47.0% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Colombia, about 73.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 98% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 3.5 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Colombia spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 3.6 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 37.7% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Colombia, that number is 3,208 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea.

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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