Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Guatemala instead of Laos, you would:
Health
live 3.5 years longer
In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Guatemala, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024.
see 7.6 times more spent on your healthcare
Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Guatemala spends $935 as of 2023.
have 3.9 times more doctors per person
Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Guatemala has 12.8 as of 2020.
have 13.5% more access to essential health services
Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guatemala scores 59 as of 2021.
be 3.0 times more likely to be obese
In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guatemala, that number is 28.0% of people as of 2024.
Economy
make 2.8 times more money
Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Guatemala, the GDP per capita is $6,598 as of 2025.
be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guatemala, that number is 2.6% as of 2025.
be 3.7 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Laos, 15.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Guatemala, however, that number is 56.0% as of 2023.
Life
be 16.1% 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 Guatemala, 94.0 women do as of 2023.
be 36.8% 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 Guatemala, on the other hand, 17.2 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 2.5 times more on education
Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Guatemala spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2024.
spend 5.1 times more on healthcare
Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guatemala, that number is 6.8% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 23.2% less likely to die in a road accident
In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Guatemala, they kill 12.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 96.3% more home broadband
Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Guatemala has 5.3 as of 2024.
live with 19.8% more strain on fresh water
Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guatemala withdraws 6% as of 2022.
use 56.0% less electricity
Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Guatemala uses 733 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 42.0% less likely to die from air pollution
In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Guatemala, it causes 40.0 as of 2019.
emit 66.9% less CO2
Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guatemala emits 1.1 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Laos vs. Guatemala
Guatemala: At a glance
How big is Guatemala compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.