If you lived in Colombia instead of Burma, you would:

Health

live 10.8 years longer

In Burma, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024. In Colombia, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 6.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Burma spends $283 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Colombia spends $1,758 as of 2024.

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have 53.8% more access to essential health services

Burma scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Colombia scores 80 as of 2021.

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be 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Burma, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Colombia, that number is 24.9% of people as of 2024.

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be 71.6% more likely to die by suicide

Burma has a suicide rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Colombia, it is 5.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 5.8 times more money

Burma has a GDP per capita of $1,489 as of 2025, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $8,562 as of 2025.

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be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Burma, 3.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Colombia, that number is 8.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 68.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burma, approximately 185.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Colombia, 59.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 68.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Burma, approximately 32.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Colombia, on the other hand, 10.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 19.5% fewer children

In Burma, there are approximately 16.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 28.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Burma, approximately 77% of people have electricity access (95% in urban areas, and 69% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 95% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 80.3% more likely to have internet access

In Burma, approximately 44.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Colombia, about 79.3% do as of 2024.

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be 13.3% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burma, approximately 86% of people have access to drinking water (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Colombia, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on education

Burma spends 2.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Colombia spends 5.3% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

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spend 82.5% more on healthcare

Burma spends 4.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 8.1% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 66.2% more coastline

Burma has a total of 1,930 km of coastline. In Colombia, that number is 3,208 km.

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Safety

be 16.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burma, road accidents kill 19.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Colombia, they kill 16.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 9.7 times more likely to be murdered

Burma has a homicide rate of 2.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 24.9 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 39.4% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Burma, 84% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2019. In Colombia, that number is 51% as of 2022.

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Infrastructure

find 6.0 times more home broadband

Burma has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Colombia has 17.2 as of 2024.

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live with 37.4% less strain on fresh water

Burma withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Colombia withdraws 4% as of 2022.

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use 4.2 times more electricity

Burma uses 368 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Colombia uses 1,551 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 66.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burma, air pollution causes 71.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Colombia, it causes 24.0 as of 2019.

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emit 3.1 times more CO2

Burma emits 0.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Colombia emits 1.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Burma? See an in-depth size comparison.

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