If you lived in Venezuela 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 Venezuela, that number is 73 years (69 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 50.9% more spent on your healthcare

Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Venezuela spends $186 as of 2023.

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have 44.2% more access to essential health services

Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Venezuela scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 2.5 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 23.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 88.4% more likely to die by suicide

Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Venezuela, it is 8.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 50.3% more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $3,495 as of 2025.

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be 4.5 times more likely to be unemployed

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

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Life

be 28.9% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 75.6% as of 2023. In Venezuela, it is 97.5% as of 2021.

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be 22.1% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 21.2 children do as of 2024.

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be 2.0 times more 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 Venezuela, 227.0 women do as of 2023.

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have 27.2% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Venezuela, there are 15.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 16.9% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Venezuela, about 76.7% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.8 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Venezuela, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 19.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Venezuela, they kill 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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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. Venezuela has 12.9 as of 2024.

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use 17.3% more electricity

Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Venezuela uses 1,953 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 57.4% more strain on fresh water

Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Venezuela withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 53.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Venezuela, it causes 32.0 as of 2019.

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

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
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