If you lived in Latvia instead of Burundi, you would:

Health

live 12.6 years longer

In Burundi, the average life expectancy is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 30.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Burundi spends $100 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Latvia spends $3,034 as of 2023.

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have 43.6 times more doctors per person

Burundi has 0.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Latvia has 34.0 as of 2022.

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have 82.9% more access to essential health services

Burundi scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Latvia scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 4.3 times more likely to be obese

In Burundi, 5.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2024.

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be 98.8% more likely to die by suicide

Burundi has a suicide rate of 7.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Latvia, it is 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 55.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Burundi, 51.0% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

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make 112.5 times more money

Burundi has a GDP per capita of $234 as of 2025, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $26,312 as of 2025.

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be 7.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Burundi, 0.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Latvia, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 95.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burundi, approximately 392.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Latvia, 19.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 33.7% more likely to be literate

In Burundi, the literacy rate is 74.7% as of 2021. In Latvia, it is 99.9% as of 2021.

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be 92.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Burundi, approximately 30.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Latvia, on the other hand, 2.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 79.2% fewer children

In Burundi, there are approximately 33.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Latvia, there are 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 8.6 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burundi, approximately 12% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Latvia, 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 10.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Burundi, approximately 8.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Latvia, about 92.7% do as of 2024.

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be 49.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burundi, approximately 66% of people have access to drinking water (91% in urban areas, and 61% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 19.9% less on healthcare

Burundi spends 9.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Latvia, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 20.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burundi, road accidents kill 12.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Latvia, they kill 9.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 1287.5 times more home broadband

Burundi has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Latvia has 25.8 as of 2024.

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live with 90.0% less strain on fresh water

Burundi withdraws 10% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Latvia withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 43.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burundi, air pollution causes 71.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Latvia, it causes 40.0 as of 2019.

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emit 52.1 times more CO2

Burundi emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Latvia emits 3.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

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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