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

Health

be 58.0% less likely to be obese

In Azerbaijan, 27.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 11.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 94.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Azerbaijan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 9.4% of people as of 2024.

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live 8.0 years less

In Azerbaijan, the average life expectancy is 75 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 67 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 75.5% less spent on your healthcare

Azerbaijan spends $993 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Zambia spends $244 as of 2023.

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have 89.8% fewer doctors per person

Azerbaijan has 31.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Zambia has 3.2 as of 2022.

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have 15.2% less access to essential health services

Azerbaijan scores 66 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Zambia scores 56 as of 2021.

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be 4.6 times more likely to die by suicide

Azerbaijan has a suicide rate of 1.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Zambia, it is 7.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 82.2% less money

Azerbaijan has a GDP per capita of $7,411 as of 2025, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $1,318 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.3 times more children

In Azerbaijan, there are approximately 10.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 32.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 4.7 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Azerbaijan, approximately 18.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Zambia, 85.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 28.1% less likely to be literate

In Azerbaijan, the literacy rate is 99.8% as of 2023. In Zambia, it is 71.8% as of 2024.

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be 2.8 times more likely to die during infancy

In Azerbaijan, approximately 12.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Zambia, on the other hand, 34.6 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 48.9% less likely to have access to electricity

In Azerbaijan, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 51% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 18% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 81.2% less likely to have internet access

In Azerbaijan, approximately 90.8% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Zambia, about 17.1% do as of 2024.

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be 24.9% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Azerbaijan, approximately 98% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 95% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 73% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 58% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 11.2% more on education

Azerbaijan spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Zambia spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 40.0% more on healthcare

Azerbaijan spends 4.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Zambia, that number is 6.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

live with 95.1% less strain on fresh water

Azerbaijan withdraws 58% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Zambia withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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find 96.4% less home broadband

Azerbaijan has 21.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Zambia has 0.8 as of 2024.

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use 69.3% less electricity

Azerbaijan uses 2,367 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Zambia uses 727 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 56.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Azerbaijan, air pollution causes 114.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Zambia, it causes 50.0 as of 2019.

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emit 85.8% less CO2

Azerbaijan emits 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Zambia emits 0.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

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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