Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Guyana instead of Somalia, you would:

Health

live 16.2 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 56 years (53 years for men, 58 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 13.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Somalia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In Somalia, 8.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 33.2 times more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2023, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 34.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Somalia, 19.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 35.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Somalia, 54.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 82.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 621.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Guyana, 112.0 women do as of 2020.

be 74.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Somalia, approximately 86.5 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 55.3% fewer children

In Somalia, there are approximately 37.4 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 90.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Somalia, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (71% in urban areas, and 31% 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 5.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 14.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

be 15.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Somalia, approximately 84% of people have improved drinking water access (96% in urban areas, and 74% 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 15.0 times more on education

Somalia spends 0.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

Geography

see 84.8% less coastline

Somalia has a total of 3,025 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.
Read more

How big is Guyana compared to Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Guyana.or Somalia It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.