Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 93.7% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Syria, it is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 1.2 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Syria, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Syria, that number is 33.0% of people as of 2024.

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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 Syria, that number is 13.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 70.1% 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 Syria, 20.0 women do as of 2023.

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have 80.1% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Syria, there are 23.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 33.1% 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 Syria, on the other hand, 17.7 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 53.7% 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 Syria, that number is 88% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 73% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Geography

see 92.3% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Syria, that number is 193 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 4.5 times more strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Syria withdraws 124% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 49.2% less CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Syria emits 1.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Compare further: North Korea vs. Syria

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Syria is 0.5% cheaper than North Korea overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 1.6 times smaller than Syria.
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Moving from North Korea to Syria · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Syria: At a glance

Syria is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 185,887 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum. Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then demonstrations and unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persisted in 2013, and the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has topped 100,000. In January 2014, the Syrian Opposition Coalition and Syrian regime began peace talks at the UN sponsored Geneva II conference.
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