Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 5.5 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 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 19.1% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.2 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,700 as of 2023.

be 97.0% more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 5.9% as of 2023.

Life

have 2.6 times more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 26.2% more likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zambia, 135.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.3% less likely to be literate

In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Zambia, it is 86.7% as of 2018.

be 67.1% more 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 Zambia, on the other hand, 37.1 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 12.6% less 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 Zambia, that number is 48% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 24.2% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In North Korea, approximately 94% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 89% 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.

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

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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