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

Health

live 1.9 years longer

In Kazakhstan, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 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 2.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Kazakhstan spends $1,460 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Latvia spends $3,034 as of 2023.

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Economy

make 79.1% more money

Kazakhstan has a GDP per capita of $14,692 as of 2025, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $26,312 as of 2025.

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be 37.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Kazakhstan, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Latvia, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

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be 4.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Kazakhstan, 5.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

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Life

be 70.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Kazakhstan, approximately 7.4 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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be 90.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Kazakhstan, approximately 10.0 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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have 64.7% fewer children

In Kazakhstan, there are approximately 19.5 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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Expenditures

spend 11.1% less on education

Kazakhstan spends 4.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Latvia spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 93.1% more on healthcare

Kazakhstan spends 3.8% 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 19.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Kazakhstan, road accidents kill 12.2 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 68.1% more home broadband

Kazakhstan has 15.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Latvia has 25.8 as of 2024.

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live with 97.1% less strain on fresh water

Kazakhstan withdraws 35% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Latvia withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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use 26.8% less electricity

Kazakhstan uses 5,146 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Latvia uses 3,768 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 41.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Kazakhstan, air pollution causes 68.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Latvia, it causes 40.0 as of 2019.

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emit 71.0% less CO2

Kazakhstan emits 12.6 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 (2022–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). 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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How big is Latvia compared to Kazakhstan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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