If you lived in Saint Lucia instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

have 16.7% more doctors per person

North Korea has 36.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2017. Saint Lucia has 42.3 as of 2020.

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have 13.2% more access to essential health services

North Korea scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Saint Lucia scores 77 as of 2021.

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be 43.4% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Saint Lucia, it is 5.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 0.9 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Saint Lucia, that number is 73 years (69 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 2.9 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Saint Lucia, that number is 34.8% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Saint Lucia, that number is 9.4% as of 2025.

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Life

be 34.3% 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 Saint Lucia, 44.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 18.8% 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 Saint Lucia, on the other hand, 15.8 children do as of 2024.

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have 12.8% fewer children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Saint Lucia, 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 Saint Lucia, 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 93.7% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Saint Lucia, that number is 158 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 48.4% less strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Saint Lucia withdraws 14% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 76.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Saint Lucia, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.

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emit 31.6% less CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Saint Lucia emits 1.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Saint Lucia: At a glance

Saint Lucia is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 606 sq km. The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
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