Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.0 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 79.9% less likely to be obese

In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Vietnam, that number is 2.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 21.6% less likely to die by suicide

North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Vietnam, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 57.1% less likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Vietnam, that number is 1.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 28.4% 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 Vietnam, 48.0 women do as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 73.6% 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 Vietnam, 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 38.0% more coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Vietnam, that number is 3,444 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 34.6% less strain on fresh water

North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Vietnam withdraws 18% as of 2022.

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use 3.3 times more electricity

North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Vietnam uses 2,585 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 39.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Vietnam, it causes 52.0 as of 2019.

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emit 70.8% more CO2

North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Vietnam emits 4.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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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. Vietnam

Cost of Living Comparison · 4 categories - 2026 data
Vietnam is 26.4% more expensive than North Korea overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Korea is about 2.8 times smaller than Vietnam.
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Moving from North Korea to Vietnam · UN DESA 2020
1,584 people born in North Korea live in Vietnam.
→

Vietnam: At a glance

Vietnam (sometimes abbreviated SRV) is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 310,070 sq km. The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups - the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space, and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests.
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How big is Vietnam compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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