Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Latvia instead of Ukraine, you would:

Health

live 2.5 years longer

In Ukraine, the average life expectancy is 73 years (69 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Latvia, that number is 76 years (71 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.3 times more money

Ukraine has a GDP per capita of $16,200 as of 2023, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $37,800 as of 2023.

be 33.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Ukraine, 9.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2021. In Latvia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 14.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Ukraine, 1.6% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

pay a 27.8% higher top tax rate

Ukraine has a top tax rate of 18.0% as of 2016. In Latvia, the top tax rate is 23.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 33.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Ukraine, approximately 7.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Latvia, on the other hand, 4.8 children do as of 2022.

have 13.5% fewer children

In Ukraine, there are approximately 9.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In Latvia, there are 8.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 11.1% more on education

Ukraine spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Latvia spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 82.1% less coastline

Ukraine has a total of 2,782 km of coastline. In Latvia, that number is 498 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine.

Latvia: At a glance

Latvia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 62,249 sq km. The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the eurozone in 2014.
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How big is Latvia compared to Ukraine? See an in-depth size comparison.

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