Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of Laos, you would:
Health
live 9.7 years longer
In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
see 109.3 times more spent on your healthcare
Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
have 11.1 times more doctors per person
Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United States has 36.8 as of 2022.
have 65.4% more access to essential health services
Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. United States scores 86 as of 2021.
be 4.5 times more likely to be obese
In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
be 3.4 times more likely to die by suicide
Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 38.7 times more money
Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
be 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed
In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
Life
be 84.8% 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 United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
be 79.8% 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 United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
have 49.4% fewer children
In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 44.4% more likely to have internet access
In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In United States, about 94.7% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 4.4 times more on education
Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. United States spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 12.5 times more on healthcare
Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 13.4% less likely to die in a road accident
In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 14.3 times more home broadband
Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. United States has 38.9 as of 2024.
use 7.7 times more electricity
Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. United States uses 12,839 kWh as of 2024.
live with 5.9 times more strain on fresh water
Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 79.7% less likely to die from air pollution
In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 4.1 times more CO2
Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Laos vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.