Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Sri Lanka, you would:

Health

live 4.4 years longer

In Sri Lanka, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.3 times more likely to be obese

In Sri Lanka, 5.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 4.2 times more money

Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of $13,000 as of 2023, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $54,100 as of 2023.

be 36.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Sri Lanka, 6.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.1% as of 2023.

be 30.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Sri Lanka, 14.3% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In United Kingdom, however, that number is 18.6% as of 2017.

pay a 3.0 times higher top tax rate

Sri Lanka has a top tax rate of 15.0% as of 2016. In United Kingdom, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 65.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sri Lanka, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 53.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Sri Lanka, approximately 8.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 25.5% fewer children

In Sri Lanka, there are approximately 14.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 44.8% more likely to have internet access

In Sri Lanka, approximately 67.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In United Kingdom, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 2.9 times more on education

Sri Lanka spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. United Kingdom spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.9 times more on healthcare

Sri Lanka spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 12.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 9.3 times more coastline

Sri Lanka has a total of 1,340 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, HM Revenue & Customs, Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department.

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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How big is United Kingdom compared to Sri Lanka? See an in-depth size comparison.

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