Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Zimbabwe instead of Hong Kong, you would:

Health

live 22.3 years less

In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 85 years (83 years for men, 88 years for women) as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, that number is 63 years (60 years for men, 65 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 3.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Hong Kong, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Zimbabwe, that number is 9.3% as of 2025.

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be 92.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Hong Kong, 19.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Zimbabwe, however, that number is 38.3% as of 2019.

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make 94.7% less money

Hong Kong has a GDP per capita of $56,983 as of 2025, while in Zimbabwe, the GDP per capita is $3,021 as of 2025.

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Life

have 6.1 times more children

In Hong Kong, there are approximately 4.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, there are 29.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 24.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In Hong Kong, approximately 2.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Zimbabwe, on the other hand, 62.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 38.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In Hong Kong, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Zimbabwe, that number is 62% of people on average (84% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 56.5% less likely to have internet access

In Hong Kong, approximately 95.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, about 41.6% do as of 2024.

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be 32.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Hong Kong, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, 67% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 90.0% less on education

Hong Kong spends 3.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Zimbabwe spends 0.4% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 17.8 times more likely to be murdered

Hong Kong has a homicide rate of 0.4 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Zimbabwe, that number is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2022.

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Infrastructure

find 95.2% less home broadband

Hong Kong has 40.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Zimbabwe has 1.9 as of 2024.

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use 92.1% less electricity

Hong Kong uses 6,359 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Zimbabwe uses 504 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 83.3% less CO2

Hong Kong emits 4.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Zimbabwe emits 0.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Hong Kong vs. Zimbabwe

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Zimbabwe is 66.3% cheaper than Hong Kong overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Hong Kong is about 353 times smaller than Zimbabwe.
→
Moving from Hong Kong to Zimbabwe · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Zimbabwe: At a glance

Zimbabwe is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 386,847 sq km. The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 1997 and intensified after 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. In April 2005, the capital city of Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months; a period of increasing hyperinflation ensued. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC-T opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing "government of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in June 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the elections, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.
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