Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Latvia instead of United States, you would:

Health

be 34.8% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Latvia, that number is 23.6% of people as of 2016.

live 4.7 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 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

pay a 41.9% lower top tax rate

United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In Latvia, the top tax rate is 23.0% as of 2016.

make 48.6% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $73,600 as of 2023, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $37,800 as of 2023.

be 79.9% more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Latvia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 49.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

Life

have 32.0% fewer children

In United States, there are approximately 12.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Latvia, there are 8.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 60.1% less on healthcare

United States spends 18.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Latvia, that number is 7.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 97.5% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 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, Internal Revenue Service.

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 United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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