Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 17.5 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Canada, that number is 84 years (82 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.6 times more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Canada, that number is 29.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 15.1 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Canada, the GDP per capita is $55,800 as of 2023.

be 84.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Canada, however, that number is 9.4% as of 2008.

Life

be 91.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Canada, 11.0 women do as of 2020.

be 88.2% 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 Canada, on the other hand, 4.4 children do as of 2022.

have 70.2% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Canada, there are 10.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

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 Canada, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 4.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Canada, about 93.0% do as of 2021.

be 38.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Canada, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 40.5% more on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Canada spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.3 times more on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Canada, that number is 12.9% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Canada: At a glance

Canada is a sovereign country in North America, with a total land area of approximately 9,093,507 sq km. A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.
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How big is Canada compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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