Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Zambia instead of Madagascar, you would:

Health

be 37.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Madagascar, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.

live 1.9 years less

In Madagascar, the average life expectancy is 68 years (67 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Zambia, that number is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

be 52.8% more likely to be obese

In Madagascar, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.3 times more money

Madagascar has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2022, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,400 as of 2022.

be 23.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Madagascar, 70.7% live below the poverty line as of 2012. In Zambia, however, that number is 54.4% as of 2015.

be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Madagascar, 1.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Zambia, that number is 4.4% as of 2022.

pay a 75.0% higher top tax rate

Madagascar has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Zambia, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 65.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Madagascar, approximately 392.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zambia, 135.0 women do as of 2020.

be 12.2% more likely to be literate

In Madagascar, the literacy rate is 77.3% as of 2021. In Zambia, it is 86.7% as of 2018.

have 23.6% more children

In Madagascar, there are approximately 27.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 32.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Madagascar, approximately 35% of people have electricity access (73% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Zambia, that number is 47% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 27.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Madagascar, approximately 56% of people have improved drinking water access (85% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 72% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 19.4% more on education

Madagascar spends 3.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Zambia spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 43.6% more on healthcare

Madagascar spends 3.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 5.6% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, General Direction of Taxes, Zambia Revenue Authority.

Zambia: At a glance

Zambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 743,398 sq km. The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential by-election in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.
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How big is Zambia compared to Madagascar? See an in-depth size comparison.

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