If you lived in Guyana instead of Eritrea, you would:

Health

live 1.4 years longer

In Eritrea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 15.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Eritrea spends $87 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Guyana spends $1,331 as of 2023.

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have 15.8 times more doctors per person

Eritrea has 0.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Guyana has 13.9 as of 2020.

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have 68.9% more access to essential health services

Eritrea scores 45 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guyana scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 4.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Eritrea, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 1.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 7.0 times more likely to be obese

In Eritrea, 4.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 30.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 87.3% more likely to die by suicide

Eritrea has a suicide rate of 13.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 30.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Eritrea, 50.0% live below the poverty line as of 2004. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

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be 100.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Eritrea, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.0% as of 2025.

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Life

be 74.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Eritrea, approximately 291.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Guyana, 75.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 15.9% more likely to be literate

In Eritrea, the literacy rate is 76.6% as of 2018. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

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have 30.8% fewer children

In Eritrea, there are approximately 28.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 19.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 81.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Eritrea, approximately 54% of people have electricity access (77% in urban areas, and 37% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 3.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Eritrea, approximately 26.6% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Guyana, about 83.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 32.9% less on healthcare

Eritrea spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 79.5% less coastline

Eritrea has a total of 2,234 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

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Safety

be 14.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Eritrea, road accidents kill 17.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Guyana, they kill 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 76.1 times more home broadband

Eritrea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Guyana has 12.9 as of 2022.

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live with 70.5% less strain on fresh water

Eritrea withdraws 11% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guyana withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 33.3% less likely to die from air pollution

In Eritrea, air pollution causes 78.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Guyana, it causes 52.0 as of 2019.

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emit 20.7 times more CO2

Eritrea emits 0.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guyana emits 4.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), The World Factbook (2004–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Eritrea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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