If you lived in Argentina instead of Laos, you would:

Health

live 8.3 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Argentina, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 25.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Argentina spends $3,089 as of 2023.

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have 15.4 times more doctors per person

Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Argentina has 51.1 as of 2023.

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have 51.9% more access to essential health services

Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Argentina scores 79 as of 2021.

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be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Argentina, that number is 37.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 73.4% more likely to die by suicide

Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Argentina, it is 7.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 6.4 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Argentina, the GDP per capita is $14,898 as of 2025.

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be 6.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Argentina, that number is 7.1% as of 2025.

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be 88.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 15.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Argentina, however, that number is 28.2% as of 2025.

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Life

be 70.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 112.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Argentina, 33.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 31.1% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 75.6% as of 2023. In Argentina, it is 99.1% as of 2020.

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be 70.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Laos, approximately 27.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Argentina, on the other hand, 8.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 47.0% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Argentina, there are 11.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 36.7% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Argentina, about 89.7% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 4.1 times more on education

Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Argentina spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 7.7 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Argentina, that number is 10.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 46.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Argentina, they kill 8.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 9.6 times more home broadband

Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Argentina has 26.1 as of 2024.

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use 69.5% more electricity

Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Argentina uses 2,822 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 2.2 times more strain on fresh water

Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Argentina withdraws 10% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 58.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Argentina, it causes 29.0 as of 2019.

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emit 19.7% more CO2

Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Argentina emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Argentina: At a glance

Argentina is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 2,736,690 sq km. In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. In January 2013, Argentina assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.
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