Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 11.3 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Tonga, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 6.0 times more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Tonga, that number is 48.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 78.4% more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Tonga, the GDP per capita is $6,600 as of 2022.

be 61.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Tonga, that number is 2.3% as of 2023.

be 65.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Tonga, however, that number is 20.6% as of 2021.

Life

be 14.6% more likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 86.7% as of 2018. In Tonga, it is 99.4% as of 2021.

be 66.6% 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 Tonga, on the other hand, 12.4 children do as of 2022.

have 42.2% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tonga, there are 19.7 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 people have electricity access (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Tonga, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 3.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Tonga, about 67.0% do as of 2021.

be 39.1% 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 Tonga, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 78.4% more on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Tonga spends 6.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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

Tonga: At a glance

Tonga is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 717 sq km. Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
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How big is Tonga compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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