Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.1 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Iran, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 56.3% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iran, it is 4.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 2.1 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Iran, that number is 24.6% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iran, that number is 8.3% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 76.1% 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 Iran, 16.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 22.6% 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 Iran, on the other hand, 10.3 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

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 Iran, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

use 4.8 times more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Iran uses 3,815 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

live with 2.9 times more strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iran withdraws 81% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 40.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Iran, it causes 51.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 3.6 times more CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Iran emits 9.1 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this

Compare further: North Korea vs. Iran

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Iran is 1.1% more expensive than North Korea overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 14 times smaller than Iran.
→
Moving from North Korea to Iran · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Iran: At a glance

Iran is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 1,531,595 sq km. Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. These protests were quickly suppressed, and the political opposition that arouse as a consequence of AHMADI-NEJAD's election was repressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a moderate conservative cleric, Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. He is a long-time senior member in the regime, but has made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities, but in November 2013 the five permanent members, plus Germany, (P5+1) signed a joint plan with Iran to provide the country with incremental relief from international pressure for positive steps toward transparency of their nuclear program.
Read more

How big is Iran compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Iran or North Korea. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.