Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Egypt instead of Ethiopia, you would:

Health

live 6.2 years longer

In Ethiopia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Egypt, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022.

be 7.1 times more likely to be obese

In Ethiopia, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Egypt, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.1 times more money

Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $2,800 as of 2023, while in Egypt, the GDP per capita is $17,000 as of 2023.

pay a 35.7% lower top tax rate

Ethiopia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Egypt, the top tax rate is 22.5% as of 2016.

be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Ethiopia, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Egypt, that number is 7.3% as of 2023.

be 26.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Ethiopia, 23.5% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Egypt, however, that number is 29.7% as of 2019.

Life

be 93.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Ethiopia, approximately 267.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Egypt, 17.0 women do as of 2020.

be 41.1% more likely to be literate

In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 51.8% as of 2017. In Egypt, it is 73.1% as of 2021.

be 47.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Ethiopia, approximately 33.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Egypt, on the other hand, 17.7 children do as of 2022.

have 34.1% fewer children

In Ethiopia, there are approximately 29.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Egypt, there are 19.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 81.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Ethiopia, approximately 55% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Egypt, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 4.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Ethiopia, approximately 17.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Egypt, about 72.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Ethiopia, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Egypt, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 44.4% less on education

Ethiopia spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Egypt spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 25.7% more on healthcare

Ethiopia spends 3.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Egypt, that number is 4.4% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, Egyptian Tax Authority.

Egypt: At a glance

Egypt is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 995,450 sq km. The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and massive anti-government demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) intervened and removed MORSI from power in mid-July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In mid-January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum. Presidential elections to replace MANSOUR are scheduled for late May 2014. According to the constitution and the government's transitional road map, preparations for parliamentary elections will begin by mid-July 2014.
Read more

How big is Egypt compared to Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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