If you lived in Burma instead of Poland, you would:

Health

be 62.7% less likely to be obese

In Poland, 21.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Burma, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 78.9% less likely to die by suicide

Poland has a suicide rate of 13.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Burma, it is 2.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

live 11.3 years less

In Poland, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024. In Burma, that number is 67 years (64 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 92.8% less spent on your healthcare

Poland spends $3,939 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Burma spends $283 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 36.6% less access to essential health services

Poland scores 82 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Burma scores 52 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 94.8% less money

Poland has a GDP per capita of $28,420 as of 2025, while in Burma, the GDP per capita is $1,489 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

have 2.4 times more children

In Poland, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Burma, there are 16.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 92.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Poland, approximately 2.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Burma, 185.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 9.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Poland, approximately 3.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Burma, on the other hand, 32.8 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 23.2% less likely to have access to electricity

In Poland, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Burma, that number is 77% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 69% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 50.3% less likely to have internet access

In Poland, approximately 88.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Burma, about 44.0% do as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 53.6% less on education

Poland spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Burma spends 2.0% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

View global rankings →

spend 44.7% less on healthcare

Poland spends 8.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Burma, that number is 4.5% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 4.4 times more coastline

Poland has a total of 440 km of coastline. In Burma, that number is 1,930 km.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 7.5 times more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Poland, 11% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2022. In Burma, that number is 84% as of 2019.

View global rankings →

be 3.2 times more likely to be murdered

Poland has a homicide rate of 0.8 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Burma, that number is 2.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 3.0 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Poland, road accidents kill 6.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Burma, they kill 19.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 82.1% less strain on fresh water

Poland withdraws 32% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Burma withdraws 6% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 88.7% less home broadband

Poland has 25.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Burma has 2.9 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 91.6% less electricity

Poland uses 4,370 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Burma uses 368 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Environment

emit 92.3% less CO2

Poland emits 7.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Burma emits 0.6 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 73.2% more likely to die from air pollution

In Poland, air pollution causes 41.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Burma, it causes 71.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Burma: At a glance

Burma is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 653,508 sq km. Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the seats. Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers, the government has initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms have included allowing ASSK to contest parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, reaching preliminary peace agreements with 10 of the 11 major armed ethnic groups, enacting laws that provide better protections for basic human rights, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, ASSK now serves as an elected Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Most political parties have begun building their institutions in preparation for the next round of general elections in 2015. The country is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014.
Read more

How big is Burma compared to Poland? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Burma or Poland. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.