Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Laos instead of China, you would:
Health
be 48.8% less likely to die by suicide
China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Laos, it is 4.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 8.8 years less
In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Laos, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.
see 91.7% less spent on your healthcare
China spends $1,487 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Laos spends $123 as of 2023.
have 89.4% fewer doctors per person
China has 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Laos has 3.3 as of 2022.
have 35.8% less access to essential health services
China scores 81 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Laos scores 52 as of 2021.
Economy
be 74.2% less likely to be unemployed
In China, 4.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Laos, that number is 1.2% as of 2025.
make 83.2% less money
China has a GDP per capita of $13,862 as of 2025, while in Laos, the GDP per capita is $2,325 as of 2025.
Life
have 3.1 times more children
In China, there are approximately 6.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Laos, there are 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 7.0 times more likely to die during childbirth
In China, approximately 16.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Laos, 112.0 women do as of 2023.
be 21.8% less likely to be literate
In China, the literacy rate is 96.7% as of 2020. In Laos, it is 75.6% as of 2023.
be 6.6 times more likely to die during infancy
In China, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Laos, on the other hand, 27.2 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 28.4% less likely to have internet access
In China, approximately 91.6% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Laos, about 65.6% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 68.5% less on education
China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Laos spends 1.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 77.6% less on healthcare
China spends 5.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Laos, that number is 1.3% of GDP as of 2023.
Infrastructure
live with 88.5% less strain on fresh water
China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Laos withdraws 5% as of 2022.
find 94.2% less home broadband
China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Laos has 2.7 as of 2023.
use 74.5% less electricity
China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Laos uses 1,665 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
emit 64.1% less CO2
China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Laos emits 3.4 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: China vs. Laos
Laos: At a glance
How big is Laos compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.