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

Health

see 2.0 times more spent on your healthcare

China spends $1,487 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Latvia spends $3,034 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

live 1.6 years less

In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In China, 9.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 69.9% more likely to die by suicide

China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Latvia, it is 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 89.8% more money

China has a GDP per capita of $13,862 as of 2025, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $26,312 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 42.2% more likely to be unemployed

In China, 4.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Latvia, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 46.3% less 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 Latvia, on the other hand, 2.2 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 18.8% 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 Latvia, 19.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 10.8% more on education

China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Latvia spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

View global rankings →

spend 22.6% more on healthcare

China spends 5.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Latvia, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 96.6% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Latvia, that number is 498 km.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 43.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In China, road accidents kill 17.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Latvia, they kill 9.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 5.0 times more likely to be murdered

China has a homicide rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Latvia, that number is 2.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 18.0% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In China, 91% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In Latvia, that number is 75% as of 2020.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 97.5% less strain on fresh water

China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Latvia withdraws 1% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 45.4% less home broadband

China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Latvia has 25.8 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 42.2% less electricity

China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Latvia uses 3,768 kWh as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 37.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In China, air pollution causes 64.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Latvia, it causes 40.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 60.8% less CO2

China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Latvia emits 3.6 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. 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.
Read more

How big is Latvia compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Latvia or China. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.