Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 17.6 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 56 years (53 years for men, 58 years for women) as of 2022. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Somalia, 8.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Venezuela, that number is 25.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.1 times more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2023, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $7,704 as of 2018.

be 70.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Somalia, 19.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 39.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Somalia, 54.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

Life

be 58.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 621.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Venezuela, 259.0 women do as of 2020.

be 79.5% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 17.7 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 Venezuela, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.0 times 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 Venezuela, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 5.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 14.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Venezuela, about 78.7% do as of 2022.

be 11.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Somalia, approximately 84% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Venezuela, 94% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 4.3 times more on education

Somalia spends 0.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Venezuela spends 1.3% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

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

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 Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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