Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Zambia instead of Laos, you would:
Health
see 97.8% more spent on your healthcare
Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Zambia spends $244 as of 2023.
be 23.5 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Laos, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 9.4% of people as of 2024.
live 2.7 years less
In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 67 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024.
be 26.1% more likely to be obese
In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 11.6% of people as of 2024.
be 55.7% more likely to die by suicide
Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Zambia, it is 7.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 5.0 times more likely to be unemployed
In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Zambia, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.
be 4.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Laos, 15.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Zambia, however, that number is 60.0% as of 2022.
make 43.3% less money
Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $1,318 as of 2025.
Life
be 24.1% 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 Zambia, 85.0 women do as of 2023.
have 56.3% more children
In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 32.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 27.2% more 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 Zambia, on the other hand, 34.6 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 47.0% less likely to have access to electricity
In Laos, approximately 96% of people have electricity access (99% in urban areas, and 95% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 51% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 18% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 73.9% less likely to have internet access
In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Zambia, about 17.1% do as of 2024.
be 23.4% less likely to have access to drinking water
In Laos, approximately 96% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 73% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 58% in rural areas) as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 3.3 times more on education
Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Zambia spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 4.5 times more on healthcare
Laos spends 1.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 6.0% of GDP as of 2023.
Infrastructure
live with 40.7% less strain on fresh water
Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Zambia withdraws 3% as of 2022.
find 71.0% less home broadband
Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Zambia has 0.8 as of 2024.
use 56.3% less electricity
Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Zambia uses 727 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 27.5% less likely to die from air pollution
In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Zambia, it causes 50.0 as of 2019.
emit 83.9% less CO2
Laos emits 3.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Zambia emits 0.5 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this
Compare further: Laos vs. Zambia
Zambia: At a glance
How big is Zambia compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.