Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 48.1% less likely to be obese

In Malaysia, 15.6% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.

be 27.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malaysia, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.

live 9.9 years less

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Zambia, that number is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 89.0% less money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $33,600 as of 2023, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,700 as of 2023.

be 53.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 5.9% as of 2023.

be 9.7 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 6.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Zambia, however, that number is 60.0% as of 2022.

pay a 25.0% higher top tax rate

Malaysia has a top tax rate of 28.0% as of 2016. In Zambia, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 2.4 times more children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 6.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zambia, 135.0 women do as of 2020.

be 5.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Zambia, on the other hand, 37.1 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 52.2% less likely to have access to electricity

In Malaysia, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Zambia, 48% of the population do as of 2022.

be 78.4% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Zambia, about 21.0% do as of 2021.

be 26.6% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Malaysia, approximately 98% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 91% 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 36.6% more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.1% 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, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, 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 Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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