Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Cuba instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 4.5 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Cuba, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 22.1% more access to essential health services

North Korea scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Cuba scores 83 as of 2021.

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be 92.3% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Cuba, that number is 23.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 48.1% more likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Cuba, it is 13.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 50.6% less likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Cuba, that number is 1.8% as of 2025.

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Life

be 47.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 67.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Cuba, 35.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 48.9% less likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 13.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Cuba, on the other hand, 6.8 children do as of 2024.

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have 33.0% fewer children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cuba, there are 8.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 73.9% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 58% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Cuba, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Geography

see 49.7% more coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Cuba, that number is 3,735 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 13.7% less strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Cuba withdraws 24% as of 2022.

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use 85.4% more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Cuba uses 1,462 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 64.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Cuba, it causes 31.0 as of 2019.

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emit 23.6% less CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Cuba emits 1.9 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. How we calculate this

Compare further: North Korea vs. Cuba

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Cuba is 46.3% more expensive than North Korea overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is around the same size as Cuba.
→
Moving from North Korea to Cuba · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Cuba: At a glance

Cuba is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 109,820 sq km. The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. Subsequently, the 1901 Platt Amendment to the Cuban constitution authorized the US to intevene in Cuba in the event of instability. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from the US in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba at times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source if its difficulties. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the US's southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard interdicted 1,357 Cuban nationals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in 2013. Also in 2013, 14,251 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry through out the US.
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