Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 93.2% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Egypt, it is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 1.9 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Egypt, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 3.7 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Egypt, that number is 43.9% of people as of 2024.

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have 81.5% fewer doctors per person

North Korea has 36.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2017. Egypt has 6.7 as of 2020.

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Economy

be 91.5% more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Egypt, that number is 6.8% as of 2025.

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Life

be 74.6% 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 Egypt, 17.0 women do as of 2023.

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have 62.6% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Egypt, there are 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 56.4% more 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 Egypt, on the other hand, 20.8 children do 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 Egypt, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

use 89.3% more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Egypt uses 1,493 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 5.1 times more strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Egypt withdraws 141% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 22.1% more likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Egypt, it causes 105.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this

Compare further: North Korea vs. Egypt

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Egypt is 27.0% cheaper than North Korea overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 8 times smaller than Egypt.
→
Moving from North Korea to Egypt · UN DESA 2020
102 people born in North Korea live in Egypt.
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Egypt: At a glance

Egypt is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 995,450 sq km. The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and massive anti-government demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) intervened and removed MORSI from power in mid-July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In mid-January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum. Presidential elections to replace MANSOUR are scheduled for late May 2014. According to the constitution and the government's transitional road map, preparations for parliamentary elections will begin by mid-July 2014.
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