Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 10.2 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 28.0 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $47,600 as of 2022.

be 21.5% more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 3.7% as of 2022.

Life

be 90.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 82.8% 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 United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 18.2% fewer children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 90.1% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 53% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In United Kingdom, 100% of the population do as of 2021.

Geography

see 5.0 times more coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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