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

Health

live 3.7 years longer

In Vietnam, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024. In Poland, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 5.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Vietnam spends $690 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Poland spends $3,939 as of 2024.

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have 3.6 times more doctors per person

Vietnam has 11.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Poland has 40.3 as of 2023.

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have 20.6% more access to essential health services

Vietnam scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Poland scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 9.1 times more likely to be obese

In Vietnam, 2.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Poland, that number is 21.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 87.3% more likely to die by suicide

Vietnam has a suicide rate of 7.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Poland, it is 13.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 5.6 times more money

Vietnam has a GDP per capita of $5,066 as of 2025, while in Poland, the GDP per capita is $28,420 as of 2025.

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be 96.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Vietnam, 1.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Poland, that number is 3.0% as of 2025.

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be 3.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Vietnam, 4.2% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Poland, however, that number is 13.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 95.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Vietnam, approximately 48.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Poland, 2.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 70.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Vietnam, approximately 12.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Poland, on the other hand, 3.6 children do as of 2024.

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have 48.6% fewer children

In Vietnam, there are approximately 13.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Poland, there are 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 49.1% more on education

Vietnam spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Poland spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 76.8% more on healthcare

Vietnam spends 4.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Poland, that number is 8.1% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 87.2% less coastline

Vietnam has a total of 3,444 km of coastline. In Poland, that number is 440 km.

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Safety

be 63.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Vietnam, road accidents kill 17.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Poland, they kill 6.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

use 69.0% more electricity

Vietnam uses 2,585 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Poland uses 4,370 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 79.2% more strain on fresh water

Vietnam withdraws 18% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Poland withdraws 32% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 21.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Vietnam, air pollution causes 52.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Poland, it causes 41.0 as of 2019.

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emit 76.8% more CO2

Vietnam emits 4.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Poland emits 7.5 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. How we calculate this

Poland: At a glance

Poland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,255 sq km. Poland's history as a state begins near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in central and eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force with over ten million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed and with large investments in defense, energy, and other infrastructure, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.
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