Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 98.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zambia, 11.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Pakistan, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2020.

live 3.4 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Pakistan, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 51.4% more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Pakistan, the GDP per capita is $5,600 as of 2023.

be 63.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Pakistan, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2018.

pay a 42.9% lower top tax rate

Zambia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Pakistan, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 33.1% less likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 86.7% as of 2018. In Pakistan, it is 58.0% as of 2019.

be 45.5% more 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 Pakistan, on the other hand, 54.0 children do as of 2022.

have 25.2% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Pakistan, there are 25.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 98.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 48% of people have electricity access (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Pakistan, that number is 95% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 31.3% 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 Pakistan, that number is 94% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 35.1% less on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Pakistan spends 2.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 50.0% less on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Pakistan, that number is 2.8% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, Zambia Revenue Authority.

Pakistan: At a glance

Pakistan is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 770,875 sq km. The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President MUSHARRAF, elected Asif Ali ZARDARI to the presidency. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan.
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How big is Pakistan compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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