Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.5 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 Guatemala, that number is 73 years (71 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 3.0 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Guatemala, the GDP per capita is $12,700 as of 2023.

pay a 83.3% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Guatemala, the top tax rate is 7.0% as of 2016.

be 60.3% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Guatemala, however, that number is 59.3% as of 2014.

Life

be 50.0% 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 Guatemala, 96.0 women do as of 2020.

be 29.8% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Guatemala, it is 83.3% as of 2021.

be 22.1% 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 Guatemala, on the other hand, 26.2 children do as of 2022.

have 23.8% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guatemala, there are 21.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 5.2 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 Guatemala, that number is 99% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 59.4% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guatemala, about 51.0% do as of 2021.

be 100.0% 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 Guatemala, that number is 95% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guatemala spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guatemala, that number is 6.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 92.2% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Guatemala, that number is 400 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea, Superintendence of the Tax Administration.

Guatemala: At a glance

Guatemala is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 107,159 sq km. The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
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How big is Guatemala compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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