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

Health

live 1.1 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 10.8 times more spent on your healthcare

Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Guyana spends $1,331 as of 2023.

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have 4.2 times more doctors per person

Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Guyana has 13.9 as of 2020.

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have 46.2% more access to essential health services

Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guyana scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 4.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Laos, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 1.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 3.3 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 30.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 5.4 times more likely to die by suicide

Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 13.9 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $32,414 as of 2025.

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be 10.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.0% as of 2025.

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Life

be 33.0% 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 Guyana, 75.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 17.4% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 75.6% as of 2023. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

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be 14.7% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 26.5% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Guyana, about 83.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 85.7% more on healthcare

Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 4.8 times more home broadband

Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Guyana has 12.9 as of 2022.

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live with 31.1% less strain on fresh water

Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guyana withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 24.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Guyana, it causes 52.0 as of 2019.

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emit 36.1% more CO2

Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guyana emits 4.6 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

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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