Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Ecuador instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 8.1 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.

Economy

make 2.9 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $3,800 as of 2022, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $10,900 as of 2022.

be 31.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Ecuador, however, that number is 25.2% as of 2022.

pay a 16.7% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Ecuador, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

be 35.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 3.8% as of 2022.

Life

be 65.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Ecuador, 66.0 women do as of 2020.

be 46.3% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Ecuador, it is 93.9% as of 2022.

be 46.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Ecuador, on the other hand, 18.1 children do as of 2022.

have 37.0% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Ecuador, there are 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.8 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 21% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Ecuador, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 2.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Ecuador, about 76.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.0 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Ecuador, that number is 95% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 87% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Ecuador spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 3.4 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Ecuador, that number is 8.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 56.6% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Ecuador, that number is 2,237 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea.

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
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How big is Ecuador compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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