# Which land border has the biggest difference in living standards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631 "2012-02-12T21:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/1 "2012-02-12T21:52:49Z")
A friend is off to Finland next week. He tells me that Russia and Finland have the biggest difference in living standards in the world between any two countries that share a land border. Is he right? ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/2 "2012-02-12T21:59:44Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > A friend is off to Finland next week. He tells me that Russia and Finland have the biggest difference in living standards in the world between any two countries that share a land border. Is he right? He could be. When I read the thread title, this was the first country-pair that came to mind. Another is Austria-Slovakia. I would also suggest Israel-Syria as worth consideration. No land border, but worth a mention, is Australia-East Timor. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/3 "2012-02-12T22:00:40Z")
My first thought was North/South Korea. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/4 "2012-02-12T22:06:27Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > No land border, but worth a mention, is Australia-East Timor. Or the USA and Russia, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/5 "2012-02-12T22:09:00Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > My first thought was North/South Korea. This is probably the winner. However, the US/Mexico border might be a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/6 "2012-02-12T22:13:45Z")
If you go by the [Human Development Index](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index), Libya (ranked 64th, and taking into account 2011’s happenings there and Niger (ranked 186th, second last) is going to be tough to beat. ---
**Author:** ![KneeSid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dec6dc/32.png) [@KneeSid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneeSid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/7 "2012-02-12T22:16:11Z")
I crossed over from the Dominican Republic to Haiti and the difference is shocking. Probably not the worst, but it’s worth mentioning ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/8 "2012-02-12T22:16:36Z")
Sounds unlikely, if we compare [Gross National Income per capita.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GNI_(nominal,_Atlas_method)_per_capita) Finland has a GNI of $47,720 compared to $9,900, or a ratio of 4.8. But Norway, which also has a land border with Russia, has a GNI of $84,290, or a ratio of 8.5. And the Dominican Republic has a GNI of $5,030, which is 7.5 times Haiti’s GNI of $670. South Korea’s GNI is $19,890, while North Korea’s is not available but estimated to be below $1,005. Now GNI isn’t the only thing involved in living standards, but with these kinds of disparities I doubt that Finland/Russia is the winner. My bet is on North and South Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/9 "2012-02-12T22:27:08Z")
No kidding. I can’t imagine anything beating North and South Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/10 "2012-02-12T22:41:47Z")
Depends on how you define standard of living. The easiest way to measure would be for income… but that is only an indirect measurement. There are a lot of different ways to measure than just raw income. But again that is probably easiest. And I’m lazy; so here are some income estimates for all of the pairings so far. Where possible I have taken GDP per capita numbers from the IMF. But for North Korea they are from the CIA fact-book. Australia $66,984 Timor-Leste $64 This is obviously the winner if sea borders count. Libya $10,873 Niger $428 Good call **Raygun99**. That looks like our winner so far for land borders. South Korea $23,749 North Korea $1,200 Given how little we really know about NK, it is possible that they are even worse off. But to get below Libya/Niger they would have to drop by a quarter. And I’m guessing the CIA estimates aren’t that bad. Finland $50,090 Russia $13,236 Obviously not even really in the running. Austria $50,504 Slovakia $17,889 Israel $32,298 Syria $3,050 United States $48,147 Russia $13,236 United States $48,147 Mexico $10,803 Dominican Republic $5,406 Haiti $739 My guess would have been South Africa and Zimbabwe. But it doesn’t reach the Koreas or Libya/Niger. But it did cross the 10x income disparity that most of these pairings didn’t come close to matching. South Africa $8,342 Zimbabwe $735 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/11 "2012-02-12T23:14:28Z")
> [@Bartman](#): > > Australia $66,984 > Timor-Leste $64 > This is obviously the winner if sea borders count. Timor-Leste is not quite that extreme; GDP per capita is given as [over $3,000 here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_future_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita_estimates), and the CIA World Factbook gives about $2,500. Still up there, though. Angola ($5,956) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($343), with a ratio of 17x, is one of the highest. Saudi Arabia ($25,345) and Oman ($25,953) vs Yemen ($2,635) are two more pairs that approach a 10x disparity. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/12 "2012-02-12T23:25:36Z")
But GDP (or GNI) isn’t a good measure for states like NK where so much of said GDP goes toward the military, not toward Kim six-pack’s standard of living. ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/13 "2012-02-12T23:25:56Z")
Kuwait ($39,498) and Iraq ($3826) GDP (PPP) per capita ---
**Author:** ![isaiahrobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@isaiahrobinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isaiahrobinson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/14 "2012-02-12T23:54:21Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > My first thought was North/South Korea. This is up there. According to the CIA World Factbook [ul](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita), South Korea has the 31st highest GDP per capita in the world, while North Korea is 160th. There’s others that might push it close though: [LIST] [li] **Israel-Gaza** - It’s a “land border”, although not a country. Israel is 33rd, the West Bank and Gaza combined are 139th; Gaza alone must be much lower than that.[/li][li] **Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon** - This one is also close: Equatorial Guinea is 21st, Cameroon is 151st, although there’s huge income inequality in EG.[/li][li] **Kuwait-Iraq** - Kuwait is 8th, Iraq is 131st. Could be this one too.[/li][li] **Brunei-Malaysia** - Brunei is 6th, Malaysia is 57th.[/li][li] **Bhutan-Burma** - I was under the impression that Bhutan was fairly prosperous, although it’s only ranked 114th to Burma’s 169th.[/li][li] **Hong Kong-China** , if you want to count this one. Hong Kong is 10th, China is 100th.[/li][li] **USA-Mexico** - the US is 9th, Mexico is 65th.[/li][/ul] Incidentally, Finland is 26th while Russia is 55th, so I think it’s unlikely your friend’s statement is anywhere close to being correct. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/15 "2012-02-13T00:28:16Z")
> [@KneeSid](#): > > I crossed over from the Dominican Republic to Haiti and the difference is shocking. Probably not the worst, but it’s worth mentioning I came in to mention this one – It is, perhaps, the only national border visible from space during the daytime (vs the Koreas at night). One side is heavily forested, and the other is stripped bare. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/16 "2012-02-13T00:43:56Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > My first thought was North/South Korea. Without doing any research and just going by what is in the ‘news’, IMHO this is the winner. > [@Giles](#): > > This is probably the winner. However, _ **the US/Mexico border might be a contender** _. (bolding mine) I disagree, the living conditions portrayed in the mainstream media are not accurate, in the degree of disparity. ---
**Author:** ![isaiahrobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@isaiahrobinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isaiahrobinson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/17 "2012-02-13T01:10:13Z")
Using the CIA World Factbook [figures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita) for GDP per capita, this is the ranking of ratios I came out with: [ol] [li]Qatar-Iraq: 47x[/li][li]Angola-DR Congo: 27x[/li][li]South Africa-Zimbabwe: 21x[/li][li]Libya-Niger: 20x[/li][li]South Korea-North Korea: 16x[/li][li]Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon: 16x[/li][li]Australia-East Timor: 16x[/li][li]Israel-Palestine: 10x (Israel-Gaza would be higher but I don’t know Gaza’s figures)[/li][li]Oman-Yemen: 9x[/li][li]China-Afghanistan: 8x[/li][li]Dominican Republic-Haiti: 7x[/li][li]Hong Kong-China: 6x[/li][li]Israel-Syria: 6x[/li][li]Brunei-Malaysia: 4x[/li][li]USA-Mexico: 4x[/li][li]Austria-Slovakia: 3x[/li][li]Finland-Russia: 2x[/li][/ol] Finland-Russia isn’t even in the ballpark. I think Qatar, Angola, Libya and Equatorial Guinea are a bit misleading on these figures, because they’ve all got huge amounts of wealth concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people, so these figures don’t reflect the living standards of their average citizens very well. So it looks like South Africa-Zimbabwe and South Korea-North Korea are probably the most accurate shouts here. I think SK-NK is the answer which best captures the spirit of the question, comparing the living standards of average citizens across the whole country. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/18 "2012-02-13T01:13:27Z")
> [@isaiahrobinson](#): > > Qatar-Iraq: 47x Interesting comparison, but it isn’t a land border. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/19 "2012-02-13T01:42:57Z")
Using [List of countries and territories by land borders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_land_borders) & the CIA data from [List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita), the Libya -\> Niger border wins at a 28.75x disparity Full data behind the spoiler: [ol] [li]Libya -\> Niger: $11500 -\> $400 (28.75x)[/li][li]Angola -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $5000 -\> $200 (25.0x)[/li][li]Equatorial Guinea -\> Cameroon: $22300 -\> $1200 (18.58x)[/li][li]Kuwait -\> Iraq: $51600 -\> $2800 (18.43x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Mozambique: $7300 -\> $400 (18.25x)[/li][li]South Korea -\> North Korea: $20700 -\> $1200 (17.25x)[/li][li]Libya -\> Chad: $11500 -\> $700 (16.43x)[/li][li]Oman -\> Yemen: $18700 -\> $1300 (14.38x)[/li][li]Republic of the Congo -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $2800 -\> $200 (14.0x)[/li][li]Saudi Arabia -\> Yemen: $17200 -\> $1300 (13.23x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Zimbabwe: $7300 -\> $600 (12.17x)[/li][li]Botswana -\> Zimbabwe: $6900 -\> $600 (11.5x)[/li][li]Algeria -\> Niger: $4600 -\> $400 (11.5x)[/li][li]Turkmenistan -\> Afghanistan: $5700 -\> $500 (11.4x)[/li][li]Israel -\> Egypt: $29000 -\> $2700 (10.74x)[/li][li]Israel -\> Syria: $29000 -\> $2700 (10.74x)[/li][li]Kazakhstan -\> Kyrgyzstan: $8100 -\> $800 (10.13x)[/li][li]Iran -\> Afghanistan: $4600 -\> $500 (9.2x)[/li][li]Spain -\> Morocco: $30300 -\> $3300 (9.18x)[/li][li]Macau -\> China: $39500 -\> $4400 (8.98x)[/li][li]China -\> Afghanistan: $4400 -\> $500 (8.8x)[/li][li]China -\> Nepal: $4400 -\> $500 (8.8x)[/li][li]Russia -\> North Korea: $10500 -\> $1200 (8.75x)[/li][li]Norway -\> Russia: $88600 -\> $10500 (8.44x)[/li][li]Dominican Republic -\> Haiti: $5300 -\> $700 (7.57x)[/li][li]Djibouti -\> Somalia: $1500 -\> $200 (7.5x)[/li][li]Greece -\> Albania: $28400 -\> $3900 (7.28x)[/li][li]Hong Kong -\> China: $31700 -\> $4400 (7.2x)[/li][li]Libya -\> Sudan: $11500 -\> $1600 (7.19x)[/li][li]Gabon -\> Cameroon: $8500 -\> $1200 (7.08x)[/li][li]Republic of the Congo -\> Central African Republic: $2800 -\> $400 (7.0x)[/li][li]Israel -\> Jordan: $29000 -\> $4300 (6.74x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Lesotho: $7300 -\> $1100 (6.64x)[/li][li]Costa Rica -\> Nicaragua: $7900 -\> $1200 (6.58x)[/li][li]Algeria -\> Mali: $4600 -\> $700 (6.57x)[/li][li]Swaziland -\> Mozambique: $2600 -\> $400 (6.5x)[/li][li]Greece -\> Republic of Macedonia: $28400 -\> $4400 (6.45x)[/li][li]Chile -\> Bolivia: $12100 -\> $1900 (6.37x)[/li][li]Saudi Arabia -\> Iraq: $17200 -\> $2800 (6.14x)[/li][li]Thailand -\> Cambodia: $4800 -\> $800 (6.0x)[/li][li]Zambia -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $1200 -\> $200 (6.0x)[/li][li]Thailand -\> Burma: $4800 -\> $800 (6.0x)[/li][li]France -\> Suriname: $39900 -\> $6700 (5.96x)[/li][li]Indonesia -\> East Timor: $2900 -\> $500 (5.8x)[/li][li]Kazakhstan -\> Uzbekistan: $8100 -\> $1400 (5.79x)[/li][li]Botswana -\> Zambia: $6900 -\> $1200 (5.75x)[/li][li]China -\> Tajikistan: $4400 -\> $800 (5.5x)[/li][li]China -\> Kyrgyzstan: $4400 -\> $800 (5.5x)[/li][li]China -\> Burma: $4400 -\> $800 (5.5x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Bolivia: $10400 -\> $1900 (5.47x)[/li][li]Slovakia -\> Ukraine: $16000 -\> $3000 (5.33x)[/li][li]Sudan -\> Ethiopia: $1600 -\> $300 (5.33x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Mongolia: $10500 -\> $2000 (5.25x)[/li][li]United States -\> Mexico: $47600 -\> $9200 (5.17x)[/li][li]Iran -\> Pakistan: $4600 -\> $900 (5.11x)[/li][li]Djibouti -\> Ethiopia: $1500 -\> $300 (5.0x)[/li][li]China -\> Pakistan: $4400 -\> $900 (4.89x)[/li][li]Thailand -\> Laos: $4800 -\> $1000 (4.8x)[/li][li]Argentina -\> Bolivia: $9000 -\> $1900 (4.74x)[/li][li]Namibia -\> Zambia: $5600 -\> $1200 (4.67x)[/li][li]Romania -\> Moldova: $7400 -\> $1600 (4.63x)[/li][li]China -\> Laos: $4400 -\> $1000 (4.4x)[/li][li]Qatar -\> Saudi Arabia: $75300 -\> $17200 (4.38x)[/li][li]Liechtenstein -\> European Union: $142700 -\> $32600 (4.38x)[/li][li]Finland -\> Russia: $45500 -\> $10500 (4.33x)[/li][li]Hungary -\> Ukraine: $12900 -\> $3000 (4.3x)[/li][li]Libya -\> Egypt: $11500 -\> $2700 (4.26x)[/li][li]Greece -\> Bulgaria: $28400 -\> $6700 (4.24x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Georgia (country): $10500 -\> $2500 (4.2x)[/li][li]Angola -\> Zambia: $5000 -\> $1200 (4.17x)[/li][li]Turkmenistan -\> Uzbekistan: $5700 -\> $1400 (4.07x)[/li][li]Poland -\> Ukraine: $12200 -\> $3000 (4.07x)[/li][li]Saudi Arabia -\> Jordan: $17200 -\> $4300 (4.0x)[/li][li]Sudan -\> Central African Republic: $1600 -\> $400 (4.0x)[/li][li]Kenya -\> Somalia: $800 -\> $200 (4.0x)[/li][li]Zambia -\> Malawi: $1200 -\> $300 (4.0x)[/li][li]Sudan -\> Eritrea: $1600 -\> $400 (4.0x)[/li][li]Brunei -\> Malaysia: $33000 -\> $8400 (3.93x)[/li][li]France -\> Brazil: $39900 -\> $10400 (3.84x)[/li][li]Algeria -\> Mauritania: $4600 -\> $1200 (3.83x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Georgia (country): $9500 -\> $2500 (3.8x)[/li][li]Djibouti -\> Eritrea: $1500 -\> $400 (3.75x)[/li][li]Croatia -\> Bosnia and Herzegovina: $13500 -\> $3600 (3.75x)[/li][li]Côte d’Ivoire -\> Liberia: $1100 -\> $300 (3.67x)[/li][li]China -\> North Korea: $4400 -\> $1200 (3.67x)[/li][li]China -\> Vietnam: $4400 -\> $1200 (3.67x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Paraguay: $10400 -\> $2900 (3.59x)[/li][li]Venezuela -\> Guyana: $10700 -\> $3000 (3.57x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Hungary: $45900 -\> $12900 (3.56x)[/li][li]United Arab Emirates -\> Saudi Arabia: $60700 -\> $17200 (3.53x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Syria: $9500 -\> $2700 (3.52x)[/li][li]Lebanon -\> Syria: $9500 -\> $2700 (3.52x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Ukraine: $10500 -\> $3000 (3.5x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Guyana: $10400 -\> $3000 (3.47x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Iraq: $9500 -\> $2800 (3.39x)[/li][li]China -\> India: $4400 -\> $1300 (3.38x)[/li][li]Germany -\> Poland: $40600 -\> $12200 (3.33x)[/li][li]Nigeria -\> Niger: $1300 -\> $400 (3.25x)[/li][li]United Arab Emirates -\> Oman: $60700 -\> $18700 (3.25x)[/li][li]Liechtenstein -\> Austria: $142700 -\> $45900 (3.11x)[/li][li]Argentina -\> Paraguay: $9000 -\> $2900 (3.1x)[/li][li]Israel -\> Lebanon: $29000 -\> $9500 (3.05x)[/li][li]Gabon -\> Republic of the Congo: $8500 -\> $2800 (3.04x)[/li][li]Kuwait -\> Saudi Arabia: $51600 -\> $17200 (3.0x)[/li][li]Cameroon -\> Central African Republic: $1200 -\> $400 (3.0x)[/li][li]Zambia -\> Mozambique: $1200 -\> $400 (3.0x)[/li][li]Greece -\> Turkey: $28400 -\> $9500 (2.99x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Armenia: $9500 -\> $3200 (2.97x)[/li][li]Mexico -\> Guatemala: $9200 -\> $3100 (2.97x)[/li][li]Malaysia -\> Indonesia: $8400 -\> $2900 (2.9x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Slovakia: $45900 -\> $16000 (2.87x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Swaziland: $7300 -\> $2600 (2.81x)[/li][li]Uzbekistan -\> Afghanistan: $1400 -\> $500 (2.8x)[/li][li]Peru -\> Bolivia: $5300 -\> $1900 (2.79x)[/li][li]Luxembourg -\> France: $110400 -\> $39900 (2.77x)[/li][li]Luxembourg -\> France: $110400 -\> $39900 (2.77x)[/li][li]Côte d’Ivoire -\> Guinea: $1100 -\> $400 (2.75x)[/li][li]Libya -\> Tunisia: $11500 -\> $4200 (2.74x)[/li][li]Luxembourg -\> Germany: $110400 -\> $40600 (2.72x)[/li][li]Norway -\> European Union: $88600 -\> $32600 (2.72x)[/li][li]Kenya -\> Ethiopia: $800 -\> $300 (2.67x)[/li][li]Equatorial Guinea -\> Gabon: $22300 -\> $8500 (2.62x)[/li][li]India -\> Nepal: $1300 -\> $500 (2.6x)[/li][li]Ghana -\> Togo: $1300 -\> $500 (2.6x)[/li][li]Ghana -\> Burkina Faso: $1300 -\> $500 (2.6x)[/li][li]Croatia -\> Serbia: $13500 -\> $5300 (2.55x)[/li][li]Rwanda -\> Burundi: $500 -\> $200 (2.5x)[/li][li]Tanzania -\> Burundi: $500 -\> $200 (2.5x)[/li][li]Tanzania -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $500 -\> $200 (2.5x)[/li][li]Uganda -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $500 -\> $200 (2.5x)[/li][li]Libya -\> Algeria: $11500 -\> $4600 (2.5x)[/li][li]Rwanda -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $500 -\> $200 (2.5x)[/li][li]Senegal -\> Guinea: $1000 -\> $400 (2.5x)[/li][li]Luxembourg -\> Belgium: $110400 -\> $44700 (2.47x)[/li][li]Romania -\> Ukraine: $7400 -\> $3000 (2.47x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Czech Republic: $45900 -\> $18800 (2.44x)[/li][li]Hungary -\> Serbia: $12900 -\> $5300 (2.43x)[/li][li]Zambia -\> Tanzania: $1200 -\> $500 (2.4x)[/li][li]Russia -\> China: $10500 -\> $4400 (2.39x)[/li][li]Republic of the Congo -\> Cameroon: $2800 -\> $1200 (2.33x)[/li][li]Azerbaijan -\> Georgia (country): $5800 -\> $2500 (2.32x)[/li][li]Sudan -\> Chad: $1600 -\> $700 (2.29x)[/li][li]Chile -\> Peru: $12100 -\> $5300 (2.28x)[/li][li]Croatia -\> Montenegro: $13500 -\> $6000 (2.25x)[/li][li]Suriname -\> Guyana: $6700 -\> $3000 (2.23x)[/li][li]China -\> Mongolia: $4400 -\> $2000 (2.2x)[/li][li]Côte d’Ivoire -\> Burkina Faso: $1100 -\> $500 (2.2x)[/li][li]China -\> Bhutan: $4400 -\> $2000 (2.2x)[/li][li]Germany -\> Czech Republic: $40600 -\> $18800 (2.16x)[/li][li]Poland -\> Belarus: $12200 -\> $5700 (2.14x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> European Union: $68700 -\> $32600 (2.11x)[/li][li]Mexico -\> Belize: $9200 -\> $4400 (2.09x)[/li][li]Liechtenstein -\> Switzerland: $142700 -\> $68700 (2.08x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Iran: $9500 -\> $4600 (2.07x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> Italy: $68700 -\> $33800 (2.03x)[/li][li]Senegal -\> Guinea-Bissau: $1000 -\> $500 (2.0x)[/li][li]Central African Republic -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $400 -\> $200 (2.0x)[/li][li]Zambia -\> Zimbabwe: $1200 -\> $600 (2.0x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Peru: $10400 -\> $5300 (1.96x)[/li][li]Norway -\> Finland: $88600 -\> $45500 (1.95x)[/li][li]Montenegro -\> Republic of Kosovo: $6000 -\> $3100 (1.94x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Slovenia: $45900 -\> $23900 (1.92x)[/li][li]Belarus -\> Ukraine: $5700 -\> $3000 (1.9x)[/li][li]Latvia -\> Belarus: $10800 -\> $5700 (1.89x)[/li][li]El Salvador -\> Honduras: $3600 -\> $1900 (1.89x)[/li][li]Ukraine -\> Moldova: $3000 -\> $1600 (1.88x)[/li][li]India -\> Bangladesh: $1300 -\> $700 (1.86x)[/li][li]Nigeria -\> Benin: $1300 -\> $700 (1.86x)[/li][li]Nigeria -\> Chad: $1300 -\> $700 (1.86x)[/li][li]Slovenia -\> Hungary: $23900 -\> $12900 (1.85x)[/li][li]Sri Lanka -\> India: $2400 -\> $1300 (1.85x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Belarus: $10500 -\> $5700 (1.84x)[/li][li]Kazakhstan -\> China: $8100 -\> $4400 (1.84x)[/li][li]France -\> Sint Maarten: $39900 -\> $21900 (1.82x)[/li][li]Indonesia -\> Papua New Guinea: $2900 -\> $1600 (1.81x)[/li][li]Azerbaijan -\> Armenia: $5800 -\> $3200 (1.81x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Azerbaijan: $10500 -\> $5800 (1.81x)[/li][li]Lithuania -\> Belarus: $10300 -\> $5700 (1.81x)[/li][li]Pakistan -\> Afghanistan: $900 -\> $500 (1.8x)[/li][li]Angola -\> Republic of the Congo: $5000 -\> $2800 (1.79x)[/li][li]Slovenia -\> Croatia: $23900 -\> $13500 (1.77x)[/li][li]Norway -\> Sweden: $88600 -\> $50200 (1.76x)[/li][li]Uzbekistan -\> Tajikistan: $1400 -\> $800 (1.75x)[/li][li]Malaysia -\> Thailand: $8400 -\> $4800 (1.75x)[/li][li]Chad -\> Central African Republic: $700 -\> $400 (1.75x)[/li][li]Uzbekistan -\> Kyrgyzstan: $1400 -\> $800 (1.75x)[/li][li]Mali -\> Guinea: $700 -\> $400 (1.75x)[/li][li]Chad -\> Niger: $700 -\> $400 (1.75x)[/li][li]Benin -\> Niger: $700 -\> $400 (1.75x)[/li][li]Mali -\> Niger: $700 -\> $400 (1.75x)[/li][li]Hungary -\> Romania: $12900 -\> $7400 (1.74x)[/li][li]Australia -\> New Zealand: $57400 -\> $33000 (1.74x)[/li][li]Australia -\> New Zealand: $57400 -\> $33000 (1.74x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> France: $68700 -\> $39900 (1.72x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> France: $68700 -\> $39900 (1.72x)[/li][li]Cameroon -\> Chad: $1200 -\> $700 (1.71x)[/li][li]United Kingdom -\> Cyprus: $36000 -\> $21000 (1.71x)[/li][li]United Kingdom -\> Cyprus: $36000 -\> $21000 (1.71x)[/li][li]Mauritania -\> Mali: $1200 -\> $700 (1.71x)[/li][li]Serbia -\> Republic of Kosovo: $5300 -\> $3100 (1.71x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> Germany: $68700 -\> $40600 (1.69x)[/li][li]Egypt -\> Sudan: $2700 -\> $1600 (1.69x)[/li][li]Tanzania -\> Malawi: $500 -\> $300 (1.67x)[/li][li]Montenegro -\> Bosnia and Herzegovina: $6000 -\> $3600 (1.67x)[/li][li]Senegal -\> The Gambia: $1000 -\> $600 (1.67x)[/li][li]Venezuela -\> Colombia: $10700 -\> $6500 (1.65x)[/li][li]Iran -\> Iraq: $4600 -\> $2800 (1.64x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Azerbaijan: $9500 -\> $5800 (1.64x)[/li][li]Guatemala -\> Honduras: $3100 -\> $1900 (1.63x)[/li][li]Colombia -\> Ecuador: $6500 -\> $4000 (1.63x)[/li][li]India -\> Burma: $1300 -\> $800 (1.63x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Colombia: $10400 -\> $6500 (1.6x)[/li][li]Tajikistan -\> Afghanistan: $800 -\> $500 (1.6x)[/li][li]Kenya -\> Tanzania: $800 -\> $500 (1.6x)[/li][li]Kenya -\> Uganda: $800 -\> $500 (1.6x)[/li][li]Jordan -\> Syria: $4300 -\> $2700 (1.59x)[/li][li]Honduras -\> Nicaragua: $1900 -\> $1200 (1.58x)[/li][li]Côte d’Ivoire -\> Mali: $1100 -\> $700 (1.57x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Suriname: $10400 -\> $6700 (1.55x)[/li][li]Norway -\> Australia: $88600 -\> $57400 (1.54x)[/li][li]Norway -\> Australia: $88600 -\> $57400 (1.54x)[/li][li]Czech Republic -\> Poland: $18800 -\> $12200 (1.54x)[/li][li]Bhutan -\> India: $2000 -\> $1300 (1.54x)[/li][li]Montenegro -\> Albania: $6000 -\> $3900 (1.54x)[/li][li]Jordan -\> Iraq: $4300 -\> $2800 (1.54x)[/li][li]Paraguay -\> Bolivia: $2900 -\> $1900 (1.53x)[/li][li]Bulgaria -\> Republic of Macedonia: $6700 -\> $4400 (1.52x)[/li][li]San Marino -\> European Union: $49300 -\> $32600 (1.51x)[/li][li]Zimbabwe -\> Mozambique: $600 -\> $400 (1.5x)[/li][li]Vietnam -\> Cambodia: $1200 -\> $800 (1.5x)[/li][li]Ethiopia -\> Somalia: $300 -\> $200 (1.5x)[/li][li]Switzerland -\> Austria: $68700 -\> $45900 (1.5x)[/li][li]Serbia -\> Bosnia and Herzegovina: $5300 -\> $3600 (1.47x)[/li][li]San Marino -\> Italy: $49300 -\> $33800 (1.46x)[/li][li]Estonia -\> Russia: $15300 -\> $10500 (1.46x)[/li][li]India -\> Pakistan: $1300 -\> $900 (1.44x)[/li][li]Iran -\> Armenia: $4600 -\> $3200 (1.44x)[/li][li]Senegal -\> Mali: $1000 -\> $700 (1.43x)[/li][li]Kazakhstan -\> Turkmenistan: $8100 -\> $5700 (1.42x)[/li][li]Belize -\> Guatemala: $4400 -\> $3100 (1.42x)[/li][li]Republic of Macedonia -\> Republic of Kosovo: $4400 -\> $3100 (1.42x)[/li][li]Turkey -\> Bulgaria: $9500 -\> $6700 (1.42x)[/li][li]Estonia -\> Latvia: $15300 -\> $10800 (1.42x)[/li][li]Spain -\> Portugal: $30300 -\> $21400 (1.42x)[/li][li]Italy -\> Slovenia: $33800 -\> $23900 (1.41x)[/li][li]Mali -\> Burkina Faso: $700 -\> $500 (1.4x)[/li][li]Benin -\> Burkina Faso: $700 -\> $500 (1.4x)[/li][li]Benin -\> Togo: $700 -\> $500 (1.4x)[/li][li]Romania -\> Serbia: $7400 -\> $5300 (1.4x)[/li][li]Algeria -\> Morocco: $4600 -\> $3300 (1.39x)[/li][li]Denmark -\> Germany: $56300 -\> $40600 (1.39x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Italy: $45900 -\> $33800 (1.36x)[/li][li]Uruguay -\> Argentina: $12200 -\> $9000 (1.36x)[/li][li]Chile -\> Argentina: $12100 -\> $9000 (1.34x)[/li][li]Sierra Leone -\> Liberia: $400 -\> $300 (1.33x)[/li][li]Guinea -\> Liberia: $400 -\> $300 (1.33x)[/li][li]Eritrea -\> Ethiopia: $400 -\> $300 (1.33x)[/li][li]Mozambique -\> Malawi: $400 -\> $300 (1.33x)[/li][li]Peru -\> Ecuador: $5300 -\> $4000 (1.33x)[/li][li]France -\> Spain: $39900 -\> $30300 (1.32x)[/li][li]Slovakia -\> Poland: $16000 -\> $12200 (1.31x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Namibia: $7300 -\> $5600 (1.3x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Kazakhstan: $10500 -\> $8100 (1.3x)[/li][li]Gibraltar -\> Spain: $38800 -\> $30300 (1.28x)[/li][li]Armenia -\> Georgia (country): $3200 -\> $2500 (1.28x)[/li][li]Bulgaria -\> Serbia: $6700 -\> $5300 (1.26x)[/li][li]Azerbaijan -\> Iran: $5800 -\> $4600 (1.26x)[/li][li]Albania -\> Republic of Kosovo: $3900 -\> $3100 (1.26x)[/li][li]Guinea-Bissau -\> Guinea: $500 -\> $400 (1.25x)[/li][li]Tanzania -\> Mozambique: $500 -\> $400 (1.25x)[/li][li]Laos -\> Burma: $1000 -\> $800 (1.25x)[/li][li]Laos -\> Cambodia: $1000 -\> $800 (1.25x)[/li][li]Burkina Faso -\> Niger: $500 -\> $400 (1.25x)[/li][li]Slovakia -\> Hungary: $16000 -\> $12900 (1.24x)[/li][li]Turkmenistan -\> Iran: $5700 -\> $4600 (1.24x)[/li][li]Botswana -\> Namibia: $6900 -\> $5600 (1.23x)[/li][li]Republic of Ireland -\> United Kingdom: $44200 -\> $36000 (1.23x)[/li][li]Republic of Ireland -\> United Kingdom: $44200 -\> $36000 (1.23x)[/li][li]Colombia -\> Peru: $6500 -\> $5300 (1.23x)[/li][li]Panama -\> Colombia: $7900 -\> $6500 (1.22x)[/li][li]Serbia -\> Republic of Macedonia: $5300 -\> $4400 (1.2x)[/li][li]Mauritania -\> Senegal: $1200 -\> $1000 (1.2x)[/li][li]Vietnam -\> Laos: $1200 -\> $1000 (1.2x)[/li][li]Netherlands -\> France: $47300 -\> $39900 (1.19x)[/li][li]Poland -\> Lithuania: $12200 -\> $10300 (1.18x)[/li][li]Ghana -\> Côte d’Ivoire: $1300 -\> $1100 (1.18x)[/li][li]France -\> Italy: $39900 -\> $33800 (1.18x)[/li][li]Czech Republic -\> Slovakia: $18800 -\> $16000 (1.18x)[/li][li]Uruguay -\> Brazil: $12200 -\> $10400 (1.17x)[/li][li]Netherlands -\> Germany: $47300 -\> $40600 (1.17x)[/li][li]Poland -\> Russia: $12200 -\> $10500 (1.16x)[/li][li]El Salvador -\> Guatemala: $3600 -\> $3100 (1.16x)[/li][li]Brazil -\> Argentina: $10400 -\> $9000 (1.16x)[/li][li]Burma -\> Bangladesh: $800 -\> $700 (1.14x)[/li][li]Montenegro -\> Serbia: $6000 -\> $5300 (1.13x)[/li][li]Austria -\> Germany: $45900 -\> $40600 (1.13x)[/li][li]Republic of Macedonia -\> Albania: $4400 -\> $3900 (1.13x)[/li][li]Belgium -\> France: $44700 -\> $39900 (1.12x)[/li][li]Belgium -\> France: $44700 -\> $39900 (1.12x)[/li][li]Namibia -\> Angola: $5600 -\> $5000 (1.12x)[/li][li]Romania -\> Bulgaria: $7400 -\> $6700 (1.1x)[/li][li]Sweden -\> Finland: $50200 -\> $45500 (1.1x)[/li][li]Belgium -\> Germany: $44700 -\> $40600 (1.1x)[/li][li]Algeria -\> Tunisia: $4600 -\> $4200 (1.1x)[/li][li]Oman -\> Saudi Arabia: $18700 -\> $17200 (1.09x)[/li][li]Nigeria -\> Cameroon: $1300 -\> $1200 (1.08x)[/li][li]Netherlands -\> Belgium: $47300 -\> $44700 (1.06x)[/li][li]South Africa -\> Botswana: $7300 -\> $6900 (1.06x)[/li][li]Latvia -\> Lithuania: $10800 -\> $10300 (1.05x)[/li][li]Croatia -\> Hungary: $13500 -\> $12900 (1.05x)[/li][li]Iraq -\> Syria: $2800 -\> $2700 (1.04x)[/li][li]Venezuela -\> Brazil: $10700 -\> $10400 (1.03x)[/li][li]Latvia -\> Russia: $10800 -\> $10500 (1.03x)[/li][li]United States -\> Canada: $47600 -\> $46600 (1.02x)[/li][li]Russia -\> Lithuania: $10500 -\> $10300 (1.02x)[/li][li]Germany -\> France: $40600 -\> $39900 (1.02x)[/li][li]Germany -\> France: $40600 -\> $39900 (1.02x)[/li][li]Burkina Faso -\> Togo: $500 -\> $500 (1.0x)[/li][li]Costa Rica -\> Panama: $7900 -\> $7900 (1.0x)[/li][li]Uganda -\> Tanzania: $500 -\> $500 (1.0x)[/li][li]Rwanda -\> Tanzania: $500 -\> $500 (1.0x)[/li][li]Burundi -\> Democratic Republic of the Congo: $200 -\> $200 (1.0x)[/li][li]Kyrgyzstan -\> Tajikistan: $800 -\> $800 (1.0x)[/li][li]Democratic Republic of the Congo -\> Burundi: $200 -\> $200 (1.0x)[/li][li]Sierra Leone -\> Guinea: $400 -\> $400 (1.0x)[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631/20 "2012-02-13T01:46:34Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > This is probably the winner. However, the US/Mexico border might be a contender. These were the 1st two I thought of. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-land-border-has-the-biggest-difference-in-living-standards/612631.md?page=2)