If you lived in Macedonia instead of Burkina Faso, you would:

Health

live 15.3 years longer

In Burkina Faso, the average life expectancy is 61 years (59 years for men, 63 years for women) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 8.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Burkina Faso spends $224 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 19.9 times more doctors per person

Burkina Faso has 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 85.0% more access to essential health services

Burkina Faso scores 40 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 32.0% less likely to die by suicide

Burkina Faso has a suicide rate of 8.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 3.5 times more likely to be obese

In Burkina Faso, 7.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 49.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Burkina Faso, 43.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Macedonia, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2023.

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make 9.1 times more money

Burkina Faso has a GDP per capita of $1,148 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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be 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Burkina Faso, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 98.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burkina Faso, approximately 242.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Macedonia, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Burkina Faso, the literacy rate is 41.6% as of 2023. In Macedonia, it is 98.4% as of 2020.

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be 94.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Burkina Faso, approximately 43.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Macedonia, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 71.9% fewer children

In Burkina Faso, there are approximately 31.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Macedonia, there are 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 4.6 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burkina Faso, approximately 22% of people have electricity access (63% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 3.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Burkina Faso, approximately 28.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Macedonia, about 93.1% do as of 2025.

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be 96.4% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burkina Faso, approximately 50% of people have access to drinking water (81% in urban areas, and 34% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 98% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Safety

be 79.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burkina Faso, road accidents kill 27.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 35.2 times more home broadband

Burkina Faso has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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use 24.9 times more electricity

Burkina Faso uses 133 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 6.7 times more strain on fresh water

Burkina Faso withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 26.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burkina Faso, air pollution causes 84.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

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emit 14.8 times more CO2

Burkina Faso emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
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