If you lived in Tanzania instead of China, you would:

Health

be 43.0% less likely to die by suicide

China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Tanzania, it is 5.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 10.8 years less

In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Tanzania, that number is 67 years (64 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 23.9% more likely to be obese

In China, 9.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Tanzania, that number is 11.5% of people as of 2024.

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see 92.0% less spent on your healthcare

China spends $1,487 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Tanzania spends $119 as of 2023.

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have 95.7% fewer doctors per person

China has 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Tanzania has 1.3 as of 2022.

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have 46.9% less access to essential health services

China scores 81 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Tanzania scores 43 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 66.0% less likely to be unemployed

In China, 4.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Tanzania, that number is 1.6% as of 2025.

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make 90.5% less money

China has a GDP per capita of $13,862 as of 2025, while in Tanzania, the GDP per capita is $1,319 as of 2025.

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Life

have 5.1 times more children

In China, there are approximately 6.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tanzania, there are 34.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 17.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 16.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Tanzania, 276.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 19.2% less likely to be literate

In China, the literacy rate is 96.7% as of 2020. In Tanzania, it is 78.2% as of 2022.

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be 7.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Tanzania, on the other hand, 28.7 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 51.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In China, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Tanzania, that number is 48% of people on average (82% in urban areas, and 28% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 66.0% less likely to have internet access

In China, approximately 91.6% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Tanzania, about 31.2% do as of 2024.

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be 32.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In China, approximately 96% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Tanzania, that number is 65% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 19.0% less on education

China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Tanzania spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 48.7% less on healthcare

China spends 5.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Tanzania, that number is 3.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 90.2% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Tanzania, that number is 1,424 km.

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Safety

be 7.5 times more likely to be murdered

China has a homicide rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Tanzania, that number is 3.8 per 100,000 as of 2020.

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Infrastructure

live with 68.8% less strain on fresh water

China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Tanzania withdraws 13% as of 2022.

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find 99.5% less home broadband

China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Tanzania has 0.2 as of 2024.

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use 97.9% less electricity

China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Tanzania uses 135 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 43.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In China, air pollution causes 64.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Tanzania, it causes 36.0 as of 2019.

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emit 96.7% less CO2

China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Tanzania emits 0.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Tanzania: At a glance

Tanzania is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 885,800 sq km. Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule ended in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. The formation of a government of national unity between Zanzibar's two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010.
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