Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Sudan instead of North Korea, you would:
Health
be 66.1% less likely to die by suicide
North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Sudan, it is 3.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 7.2 years less
In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Sudan, that number is 67 years (63 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.
be 48.9% more likely to be obese
In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Sudan, that number is 17.8% of people as of 2024.
have 93.1% fewer doctors per person
North Korea has 36.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2017. Sudan has 2.5 as of 2017.
have 35.3% less access to essential health services
North Korea scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Sudan scores 44 as of 2021.
Economy
be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Sudan, that number is 11.4% as of 2023.
Life
have 2.6 times more children
In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Sudan, there are 33.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 3.8 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 Sudan, 256.0 women do as of 2023.
be 39.3% less likely to be literate
In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Sudan, it is 60.7% as of 2018.
be 3.2 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 Sudan, on the other hand, 42.9 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 14.8% 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 Sudan, that number is 66% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 30.9% 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 Sudan, that number is 65% of people on average (74% in urban areas, and 60% in rural areas) as of 2024.
Geography
see 65.8% less coastline
North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Sudan, that number is 853 km.
Infrastructure
live with 4.3 times more strain on fresh water
North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Sudan withdraws 119% as of 2022.
use 71.8% less electricity
North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Sudan uses 223 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 18.6% less likely to die from air pollution
In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Sudan, it causes 70.0 as of 2019.
emit 82.8% less CO2
North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Sudan emits 0.4 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), The World Factbook (2015–2023), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: North Korea vs. Sudan
Sudan: At a glance
How big is Sudan compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.