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

Health

be 47.4% less likely to be obese

In Kyrgyzstan, 22.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Zambia, that number is 11.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 31.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Kyrgyzstan, 0.3% 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 5.9 years less

In Kyrgyzstan, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 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 30.1% less spent on your healthcare

Kyrgyzstan spends $349 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Zambia spends $244 as of 2023.

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have 79.3% fewer doctors per person

Kyrgyzstan has 15.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Zambia has 3.2 as of 2022.

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have 18.8% less access to essential health services

Kyrgyzstan scores 69 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Zambia scores 56 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 67.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Kyrgyzstan, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Zambia, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

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be 2.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Kyrgyzstan, 24.0% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Zambia, however, that number is 60.0% as of 2022.

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make 57.2% less money

Kyrgyzstan has a GDP per capita of $3,081 as of 2025, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $1,318 as of 2025.

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Life

have 68.7% more children

In Kyrgyzstan, there are approximately 19.4 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 2.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 42.0 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 2.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 14.8 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 Kyrgyzstan, 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 81.4% less likely to have internet access

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 92.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Zambia, about 17.1% do as of 2024.

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be 22.7% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 95% of people have access to drinking water (99% in urban areas, and 92% 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 40.4% less on education

Kyrgyzstan spends 6.8% 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 32.9% more on healthcare

Kyrgyzstan spends 4.5% 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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Safety

be 28.6% more likely to die in a road accident

In Kyrgyzstan, road accidents kill 13.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Zambia, they kill 17.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 94.3% less strain on fresh water

Kyrgyzstan withdraws 50% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Zambia withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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find 89.9% less home broadband

Kyrgyzstan has 7.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Zambia has 0.8 as of 2024.

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use 64.9% less electricity

Kyrgyzstan uses 2,069 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Zambia uses 727 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 43.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Kyrgyzstan, air pollution causes 88.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Zambia, it causes 50.0 as of 2019.

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emit 63.8% less CO2

Kyrgyzstan emits 1.5 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 (2022–2025), 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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