Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.5 years longer

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

be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Uzbekistan, that number is 16.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.2 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Uzbekistan, the GDP per capita is $8,800 as of 2023.

be 51.0% more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Uzbekistan, that number is 4.5% as of 2023.

Life

be 72.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Uzbekistan, 30.0 women do as of 2020.

be 14.5% 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 Uzbekistan, on the other hand, 19.0 children do as of 2022.

have 55.3% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uzbekistan, there are 20.5 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 Uzbekistan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

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

Uzbekistan: At a glance

Uzbekistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 425,400 sq km. Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country has lessened its dependence on the cotton monoculture by diversifying agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base. However, longserving septuagenarian President Islom KARIMOV, who rose through the ranks of the Soviet-era State Planning Committee (Gosplan), remains wedded to the concepts of a command economy, creating a challenging environment for foreign investment. Current concerns include post-KARIMOV succession, terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
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How big is Uzbekistan compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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