Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 14.5% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Somalia, it is 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 14.8 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 59 years (56 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 24.8% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 14.9% of people as of 2024.

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have 99.4% fewer doctors per person

North Korea has 36.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2017. Somalia has 0.2 as of 2014.

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have 60.3% less access to essential health services

North Korea scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Somalia scores 27 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 5.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Somalia, that number is 18.9% as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.3 times more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Somalia, there are 42.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 8.4 times more 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 Somalia, 563.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 4.9 times 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 Somalia, on the other hand, 65.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 12.5% less 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 Somalia, that number is 50% of people on average (79% in urban areas, and 24% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 19.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In North Korea, approximately 94% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 89% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Somalia, that number is 75% of people on average (84% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Geography

see 21.2% more coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Somalia, that number is 3,025 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 11.6% less strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Somalia withdraws 25% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 25.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Somalia, it causes 64.0 as of 2019.

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emit 98.0% less CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Somalia emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2014–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Compare further: North Korea vs. Somalia

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Somalia is 3.7% cheaper than North Korea overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 5 times smaller than Somalia.
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Moving from North Korea to Somalia · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Somalia: At a glance

Somalia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 627,337 sq km. Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president.
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