Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

see 3.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Ethiopia spends $86 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Burma spends $283 as of 2023.

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have 48.6% more access to essential health services

Ethiopia scores 35 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Burma scores 52 as of 2021.

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be 52.4% less likely to die by suicide

Ethiopia has a suicide rate of 6.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Burma, it is 2.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Ethiopia, 2.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Burma, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 59.6% more money

Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $933 as of 2025, while in Burma, the GDP per capita is $1,489 as of 2025.

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Life

be 54.7% more likely to be literate

In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 60.5% as of 2022. In Burma, it is 93.5% as of 2020.

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have 47.7% fewer children

In Ethiopia, there are approximately 31.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Burma, there are 16.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 38.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Ethiopia, approximately 55% of people have electricity access (95% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Burma, that number is 77% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 69% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Ethiopia, approximately 21.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Burma, about 44.0% do as of 2021.

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be 54.1% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Ethiopia, approximately 56% of people have access to drinking water (83% in urban areas, and 47% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Burma, that number is 86% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 59.3% more on healthcare

Ethiopia spends 2.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Burma, that number is 4.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 4.9 times more home broadband

Ethiopia has 0.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Burma has 2.9 as of 2024.

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live with 82.0% less strain on fresh water

Ethiopia withdraws 32% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Burma withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 3.3 times more electricity

Ethiopia uses 113 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Burma uses 368 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 54.3% more likely to die from air pollution

In Ethiopia, air pollution causes 46.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Burma, it causes 71.0 as of 2019.

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emit 3.9 times more CO2

Ethiopia emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Burma emits 0.6 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

Compare further: Ethiopia vs. Burma

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Burma is 22.9% cheaper than Ethiopia overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Ethiopia is about 1.6 times bigger than Burma.
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Burma: At a glance

Burma is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 653,508 sq km. Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the seats. Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers, the government has initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms have included allowing ASSK to contest parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, reaching preliminary peace agreements with 10 of the 11 major armed ethnic groups, enacting laws that provide better protections for basic human rights, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, ASSK now serves as an elected Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Most political parties have begun building their institutions in preparation for the next round of general elections in 2015. The country is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014.
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How big is Burma compared to Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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