Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Montenegro instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 6.0 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In Montenegro, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.4 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Montenegro, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 16.4 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Montenegro, the GDP per capita is $27,800 as of 2023.

be 5.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Montenegro, that number is 15.2% as of 2023.

Life

be 94.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Montenegro, 6.0 women do as of 2020.

be 85.4% less likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 22.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Montenegro, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2022.

have 17.4% fewer children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Montenegro, there are 10.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 82.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 55% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Montenegro, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Geography

see 88.2% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Montenegro, that number is 294 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Montenegro: At a glance

Montenegro is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 13,452 sq km. The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006.
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