Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.2 years longer

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

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be 43.1% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Montenegro, that number is 17.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 21.5% more likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Montenegro, it is 11.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 3.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Montenegro, that number is 13.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 91.0% 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 Montenegro, 6.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 85.7% 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 Montenegro, on the other hand, 1.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 12.9% fewer children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Montenegro, there are 11.2 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 Montenegro, 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 88.2% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Montenegro, that number is 294 km.

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Infrastructure

use 5.8 times more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Montenegro uses 4,564 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 30.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Montenegro, it causes 60.0 as of 2019.

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

Compare further: North Korea vs. Montenegro

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Montenegro is 2.3 times more expensive than North Korea overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 9 times bigger than Montenegro.
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Moving from North Korea to Montenegro · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Montenegro: At a glance

Montenegro is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 13,452 sq km. The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006.
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