Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Korea instead of Haiti, you would:
Health
live 8.6 years longer
In Haiti, the average life expectancy is 65 years (62 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In North Korea, that number is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024.
have 25.9% more access to essential health services
Haiti scores 54 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. North Korea scores 68 as of 2021.
be 19.2% more likely to die by suicide
Haiti has a suicide rate of 7.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In North Korea, it is 9.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 76.3% less likely to be unemployed
In Haiti, 14.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In North Korea, that number is 3.5% as of 2025.
Life
be 79.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Haiti, approximately 328.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In North Korea, 67.0 women do as of 2023.
be 47.0% more likely to be literate
In Haiti, the literacy rate is 68.0% as of 2017. In North Korea, it is 100.0% as of 2015.
be 65.9% less likely to die during infancy
In Haiti, approximately 39.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In North Korea, on the other hand, 13.3 children do as of 2024.
have 41.4% fewer children
In Haiti, there are approximately 21.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In North Korea, there are 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 12.1% more likely to have access to electricity
In Haiti, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (84% in urban areas, and 3% in rural areas) as of 2023. In North Korea, that number is 58% of people on average (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 28.1% more likely to have access to drinking water
In Haiti, approximately 73% of people have access to drinking water (85% in urban areas, and 55% in rural areas) as of 2024. In North Korea, that number is 94% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 89% in rural areas) as of 2023.
Geography
see 40.9% more coastline
Haiti has a total of 1,771 km of coastline. In North Korea, that number is 2,495 km.
Infrastructure
use 10.3 times more electricity
Haiti uses 76 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2022. North Korea uses 789 kWh as of 2023.
live with 2.1 times more strain on fresh water
Haiti withdraws 13% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. North Korea withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 72.0% more likely to die from air pollution
In Haiti, air pollution causes 50.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In North Korea, it causes 86.0 as of 2019.
emit 8.3 times more CO2
Haiti emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2015). How we calculate this
Compare further: Haiti vs. North Korea
North Korea: At a glance
How big is North Korea compared to Haiti? See an in-depth size comparison.