Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 27.0% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Kyrgyzstan, it is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 1.3 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Kyrgyzstan, that number is 72 years (68 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 84.4% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Kyrgyzstan, that number is 22.0% of people as of 2024.

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Life

be 37.3% 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 Kyrgyzstan, 42.0 women do as of 2023.

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have 50.9% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Kyrgyzstan, there are 19.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 11.3% 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 Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, 14.8 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 Kyrgyzstan, 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 2.6 times more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Kyrgyzstan uses 2,069 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 80.4% more strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Kyrgyzstan withdraws 50% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 40.4% less CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Kyrgyzstan emits 1.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2024), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: North Korea vs. Kyrgyzstan

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Kyrgyzstan is 29.3% more expensive than North Korea overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 1.7 times smaller than Kyrgyzstan.
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Moving from North Korea to Kyrgyzstan · UN DESA 2020
1,729 people born in North Korea live in Kyrgyzstan.
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Kyrgyzstan: At a glance

Kyrgyzstan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 191,801 sq km. A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990. Former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV overwhelmingly won the presidential election in the summer of 2005. Over the next few years, he manipulated the parliament to accrue new powers for the presidency. In July 2009, after months of harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won re-election in a presidential campaign that the international community deemed flawed. In April 2010, violent protests in Bishkek led to the collapse of the BAKIEV regime and his eventual fleeing to Minsk, Belarus. His successor, Roza OTUNBAEVA, served as transitional president until Almazbek ATAMBAEV was inaugurated in December 2011, marking the first peaceful transfer of presidential power in independent Kyrgyzstan's history. Continuing concerns include: the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, poor interethnic relations, and terrorism.
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How big is Kyrgyzstan compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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