If you lived in Cameroon instead of Laos, you would:

Health

be 10.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Laos, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Cameroon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

live 4.9 years less

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Cameroon, that number is 63 years (61 years for men, 65 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.2 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Cameroon, that number is 11.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 53.2% less money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,900 as of 2022, while in Cameroon, the GDP per capita is $3,700 as of 2022.

be 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Cameroon, however, that number is 37.5% as of 2014.

pay a 45.8% higher top tax rate

Laos has a top tax rate of 24.0% as of 2016. In Cameroon, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 75.3% more children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cameroon, there are 34.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Cameroon, 438.0 women do as of 2020.

be 11.5% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Cameroon, it is 77.1% as of 2018.

be 29.0% more likely to die during infancy

In Laos, approximately 37.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Cameroon, on the other hand, 48.7 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 34.6% less likely to have access to electricity

In Laos, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Cameroon, that number is 65% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 25.8% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Cameroon, about 46.0% do as of 2021.

be 11.5% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Laos, approximately 89% of people have improved drinking water access (97% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Cameroon, that number is 79% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 56% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 39.1% more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Cameroon spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 40.7% more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Cameroon, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance.

Cameroon: At a glance

Cameroon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 472,710 sq km. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
Read more

How big is Cameroon compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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