Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Zambia instead of Rwanda, you would:
Health
be 4.4 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Rwanda, 2.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.
be 39.7% more likely to be obese
In Rwanda, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 57.1% more money
Rwanda has a GDP per capita of $2,100 as of 2020, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,300 as of 2020.
be 5.6 times more likely to be unemployed
In Rwanda, 2.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2014. In Zambia, that number is 15.0% as of 2008.
be 42.4% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Rwanda, 38.2% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Zambia, however, that number is 54.4% as of 2015.
pay a 16.7% higher top tax rate
Rwanda has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Zambia, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 18.4% more likely to be literate
In Rwanda, the literacy rate is 73.2% as of 2018. In Zambia, it is 86.7% as of 2018.
have 31.8% more children
In Rwanda, there are approximately 26.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Zambia, there are 34.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.
be 40.6% more likely to die during infancy
In Rwanda, approximately 26.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Zambia, on the other hand, 37.1 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 30.2% less likely to have access to electricity
In Rwanda, approximately 53% of people have electricity access (76% in urban areas, and 48% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Zambia, that number is 37% of people on average (76% in urban areas, and 6% in rural areas) as of 2019.
be 25.9% less likely to have internet access
In Rwanda, approximately 27.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Zambia, about 20.0% do as of 2020.
be 13.4% less likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Rwanda, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (92% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 72% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 17.2% less on healthcare
Rwanda spends 6.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Zambia, that number is 5.3% of GDP as of 2019.
spend 32.4% more on education
Rwanda spends 3.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Zambia spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2019.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Zambia Revenue Authority, Rwanda Revenue Authority.
Zambia: At a glance
How big is Zambia compared to Rwanda? See an in-depth size comparison.