Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Venezuela instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

live 9.7 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 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 5.4 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Venezuela, that number is 25.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 10.5% lower top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Venezuela, the top tax rate is 34.0% as of 2016.

make 84.8% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $7,704 as of 2018.

be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

Life

have 2.4 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Venezuela, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 32.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Venezuela, 259.0 women do as of 2020.

be 6.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 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.

Basic Needs

be 19.7% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Venezuela, about 78.7% do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 72.3% less on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Venezuela spends 1.3% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

spend 54.8% less on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 16.0% more coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Venezuela, that number is 2,800 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Tax Service, South Korea, Ministerio del Poder Popular de Finanzas, SENIAT.

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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