Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Malaysia instead of Laos, you would:
Health
live 7.6 years longer
In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.
see 11.7 times more spent on your healthcare
Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Malaysia spends $1,441 as of 2023.
have 7.1 times more doctors per person
Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Malaysia has 23.4 as of 2023.
have 46.2% more access to essential health services
Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Malaysia scores 76 as of 2021.
be 2.5 times more likely to be obese
In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2024.
be 23.4% more likely to die by suicide
Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 66.0% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Laos, 15.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Malaysia, however, that number is 5.1% as of 2023.
make 5.6 times more money
Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $13,125 as of 2025.
be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Malaysia, that number is 3.8% as of 2025.
Life
be 76.8% 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 Malaysia, 26.0 women do as of 2023.
be 26.6% more likely to be literate
In Laos, the literacy rate is 75.6% as of 2023. In Malaysia, it is 95.8% as of 2022.
be 74.3% 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 Malaysia, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2024.
have 40.9% fewer children
In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 49.4% more likely to have internet access
In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Malaysia, about 98.0% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 2.9 times more on education
Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Malaysia spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 3.0 times more on healthcare
Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 15.2% less likely to die in a road accident
In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Malaysia, they kill 13.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 5.0 times more home broadband
Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Malaysia has 13.6 as of 2024.
live with 28.2% less strain on fresh water
Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Malaysia withdraws 3% as of 2022.
use 3.1 times more electricity
Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
emit 2.5 times more CO2
Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Malaysia emits 8.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Laos vs. Malaysia
Malaysia: At a glance
How big is Malaysia compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.