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

Health

see 4.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Fiji spends $548 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 11.5% more access to essential health services

Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Fiji scores 58 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

live 1.8 years less

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Fiji, that number is 67 years (65 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 4.3 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Fiji, that number is 39.0% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 80.6% more likely to die by suicide

Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Fiji, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 2.9 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Fiji, the GDP per capita is $6,642 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 4.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Fiji, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 73.2% 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 Fiji, 30.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 13.6% 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 Fiji, on the other hand, 23.5 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

have 14.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Fiji, there are 17.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 13.9% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Fiji, about 74.7% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 3.5 times more on education

Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Fiji spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

View global rankings →

spend 2.7 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Fiji, that number is 3.6% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 67.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Fiji, they kill 5.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 93.7% less strain on fresh water

Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Fiji withdraws 0% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 33.8% less home broadband

Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Fiji has 1.8 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 46.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Fiji, it causes 37.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 51.6% less CO2

Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Fiji emits 1.6 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


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

Fiji: At a glance

Fiji is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 18,274 sq km. Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012, he promised to hold elections in 2014.
Read more

How big is Fiji compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

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