If you lived in Venezuela instead of Burkina Faso, you would:

Health

live 11.4 years longer

In Burkina Faso, the average life expectancy is 61 years (59 years for men, 63 years for women) as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (69 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 87.5% more access to essential health services

Burkina Faso scores 40 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Venezuela scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 3.0 times more likely to be obese

In Burkina Faso, 7.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 23.0% of people as of 2024.

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see 16.9% less spent on your healthcare

Burkina Faso spends $224 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Venezuela spends $186 as of 2023.

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Economy

make 3.0 times more money

Burkina Faso has a GDP per capita of $1,148 as of 2025, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $3,495 as of 2025.

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be 52.6% more likely to be unemployed

In Burkina Faso, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Venezuela, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 2.3 times more likely to be literate

In Burkina Faso, the literacy rate is 41.6% as of 2023. In Venezuela, it is 97.5% as of 2021.

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be 51.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Burkina Faso, approximately 43.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Venezuela, on the other hand, 21.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 51.4% fewer children

In Burkina Faso, there are approximately 31.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Venezuela, there are 15.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 4.6 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burkina Faso, approximately 22% of people have electricity access (63% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Burkina Faso, approximately 28.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Venezuela, about 76.7% do as of 2024.

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be 86.7% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burkina Faso, approximately 50% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Venezuela, 93% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 51.5% less on healthcare

Burkina Faso spends 7.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 52.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burkina Faso, road accidents kill 27.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Venezuela, they kill 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 15.2 times more home broadband

Burkina Faso has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Venezuela has 12.9 as of 2024.

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use 14.6 times more electricity

Burkina Faso uses 133 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Venezuela uses 1,953 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 61.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burkina Faso, air pollution causes 84.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Venezuela, it causes 32.0 as of 2019.

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emit 12.6 times more CO2

Burkina Faso emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Venezuela emits 3.4 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
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