Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 2.4 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 Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

be 44.4% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Papua New Guinea, 0.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

Economy

make 11.9 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 41.7% 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 Guyana, 112.0 women do as of 2020.

be 38.3% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

be 34.1% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

have 40.6% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.9 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 Guyana, that number is 93% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.0 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 Guyana, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 3.2 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 2.2 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 91.1% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

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

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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