If you lived in Iceland instead of Bolivia, you would:

Health

live 14.1 years longer

In Bolivia, the average life expectancy is 69 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In Iceland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 25.3% less likely to be obese

In Bolivia, 29.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Iceland, that number is 22.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 9.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Bolivia spends $756 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Iceland spends $6,927 as of 2024.

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have 3.4 times more doctors per person

Bolivia has 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Iceland has 43.7 as of 2023.

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have 36.9% more access to essential health services

Bolivia scores 65 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Iceland scores 89 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to die by suicide

Bolivia has a suicide rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iceland, it is 11.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 19.1 times more money

Bolivia has a GDP per capita of $5,148 as of 2025, while in Iceland, the GDP per capita is $98,323 as of 2025.

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be 21.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Bolivia, 3.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iceland, that number is 3.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 97.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Bolivia, approximately 146.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Iceland, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 85.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Bolivia, approximately 14.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Iceland, on the other hand, 2.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 46.7% fewer children

In Bolivia, there are approximately 21.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iceland, there are 11.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 23.2% more likely to have internet access

In Bolivia, approximately 79.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Iceland, about 98.2% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 29.8% more on healthcare

Bolivia spends 6.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Iceland, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2024.

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Safety

be 70.8% less likely to be murdered

Bolivia has a homicide rate of 4.4 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Iceland, that number is 1.3 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 54.9% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Bolivia, 59% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2021. In Iceland, that number is 91% as of 2022.

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be 86.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Bolivia, road accidents kill 17.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iceland, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 3.1 times more home broadband

Bolivia has 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iceland has 37.5 as of 2024.

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use 55.0 times more electricity

Bolivia uses 890 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Iceland uses 48,998 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 95.0% more strain on fresh water

Bolivia withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iceland withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 85.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Bolivia, air pollution causes 54.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Iceland, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 3.7 times more CO2

Bolivia emits 2.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Iceland emits 8.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Iceland: At a glance

Iceland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 100,250 sq km. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
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How big is Iceland compared to Bolivia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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