Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Laos instead of Cambodia, you would:
Health
live 2.5 years less
In Cambodia, the average life expectancy is 71 years (69 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2022. In Laos, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022.
be 35.9% more likely to be obese
In Cambodia, 3.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Laos, that number is 5.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 85.7% more money
Cambodia has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2020, while in Laos, the GDP per capita is $7,800 as of 2020.
be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed
In Cambodia, 0.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Laos, that number is 0.7% as of 2017.
be 10.9% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Cambodia, 16.5% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Laos, however, that number is 18.3% as of 2018.
pay a 20.0% higher top tax rate
Cambodia has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Laos, the top tax rate is 24.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 15.6% more likely to die during childbirth
In Cambodia, approximately 160.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Laos, 185.0 women do as of 2017.
be 27.7% more likely to die during infancy
In Cambodia, approximately 29.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Laos, on the other hand, 37.8 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 26.7% more likely to have access to electricity
In Cambodia, approximately 75% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 67% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Laos, that number is 95% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2019.
Expenditures
spend 62.9% less on healthcare
Cambodia spends 7.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Laos, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2019.
spend 31.8% more on education
Cambodia spends 2.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. Laos spends 2.9% of total GDP on education as of 2014.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, General Department of Taxation.
Laos: At a glance
How big is Laos compared to Cambodia? See an in-depth size comparison.