Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 12.1 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Brunei, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

be 74.1% more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Brunei, that number is 14.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 21.1 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $77,900 as of 2023.

be 10.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2023.

Life

be 67.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Brunei, 44.0 women do as of 2020.

be 12.6% more likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 86.7% as of 2018. In Brunei, it is 97.6% as of 2021.

be 71.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 37.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Brunei, on the other hand, 10.5 children do as of 2022.

have 53.7% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

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

be 4.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Brunei, about 98.0% do as of 2021.

be 39.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Brunei, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 57.1% less on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Brunei, that number is 2.4% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 18.9% more on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Brunei spends 4.4% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

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

Brunei: At a glance

Brunei is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 5,265 sq km. The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
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How big is Brunei compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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