Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Zambia instead of Somalia, you would:

Health

live 10.5 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 56 years (53 years for men, 58 years for women) as of 2022. In Zambia, that number is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022.

be 111.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Somalia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.

Economy

make 4.1 times more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $800 as of 2020, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,300 as of 2020.

Life

be 74.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 829.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Zambia, 213.0 women do as of 2017.

be 57.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Somalia, approximately 86.5 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 2.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Somalia, approximately 18% of people have electricity access (34% in urban areas, and 4% 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 10.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 2.0% of the population has internet access as of 2019. In Zambia, about 20.0% do as of 2020.

be 15.0% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Somalia, approximately 84% of people have improved drinking water access (96% in urban areas, and 74% 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.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Zambia: At a glance

Zambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 743,398 sq km. The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential by-election in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.
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How big is Zambia compared to Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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