If you lived in Latvia instead of Senegal, you would:

Health

live 7.5 years longer

In Senegal, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 14.8 times more spent on your healthcare

Senegal spends $206 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Latvia spends $3,034 as of 2023.

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have 31.2 times more doctors per person

Senegal has 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Latvia has 34.0 as of 2022.

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have 50.0% more access to essential health services

Senegal scores 50 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Latvia scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 92.5% more likely to be obese

In Senegal, 11.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die by suicide

Senegal has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Latvia, it is 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 40.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Senegal, 37.5% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Latvia, however, that number is 22.5% as of 2022.

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make 13.5 times more money

Senegal has a GDP per capita of $1,955 as of 2025, while in Latvia, the GDP per capita is $26,312 as of 2025.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Senegal, 2.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Latvia, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 92.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Senegal, approximately 237.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Latvia, 19.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 98.4% more likely to be literate

In Senegal, the literacy rate is 50.4% as of 2023. In Latvia, it is 99.9% as of 2021.

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be 92.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Senegal, approximately 28.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Latvia, on the other hand, 2.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 76.4% fewer children

In Senegal, there are approximately 29.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Latvia, there are 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 34.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Senegal, approximately 74% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 56% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Latvia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 54.2% more likely to have internet access

In Senegal, approximately 60.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Latvia, about 92.7% do as of 2024.

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be 12.2% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Senegal, approximately 88% of people have access to drinking water (95% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Latvia, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 29.9% less on education

Senegal spends 6.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Latvia spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 68.5% more on healthcare

Senegal spends 4.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Latvia, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 52.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Senegal, road accidents kill 20.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Latvia, they kill 9.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 6.4 times more home broadband

Senegal has 4.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Latvia has 25.8 as of 2024.

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live with 93.7% less strain on fresh water

Senegal withdraws 16% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Latvia withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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use 9.2 times more electricity

Senegal uses 410 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Latvia uses 3,768 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 38.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Senegal, air pollution causes 65.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Latvia, it causes 40.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.7 times more CO2

Senegal emits 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Latvia emits 3.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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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

Latvia: At a glance

Latvia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 62,249 sq km. The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the eurozone in 2014.
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