Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Korea instead of Uganda, you would:
Health
live 5.2 years longer
In Uganda, the average life expectancy is 68 years (65 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In North Korea, that number is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024.
have 38.8% more access to essential health services
Uganda scores 49 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. North Korea scores 68 as of 2021.
be 26.2% more likely to be obese
In Uganda, 9.5% of adults are obese as of 2024. In North Korea, that number is 11.9% of people as of 2024.
be 69.3% more likely to die by suicide
Uganda has a suicide rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In North Korea, it is 9.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 28.7% more likely to be unemployed
In Uganda, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In North Korea, that number is 3.5% as of 2025.
Life
be 60.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Uganda, approximately 170.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In North Korea, 67.0 women do as of 2023.
be 63.0% less likely to die during infancy
In Uganda, approximately 35.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In North Korea, on the other hand, 13.3 children do as of 2024.
have 62.7% fewer children
In Uganda, there are approximately 34.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In North Korea, there are 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 11.7% more likely to have access to electricity
In Uganda, approximately 52% of people have electricity access (76% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2023. In North Korea, that number is 58% of people on average (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 49.0% more likely to have access to drinking water
In Uganda, approximately 63% of people have access to drinking water (80% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2024. In North Korea, that number is 94% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 89% in rural areas) as of 2023.
Infrastructure
use 8.3 times more electricity
Uganda uses 95 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. North Korea uses 789 kWh as of 2023.
live with 4.8 times more strain on fresh water
Uganda withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. North Korea withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 43.3% more likely to die from air pollution
In Uganda, air pollution causes 60.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In North Korea, it causes 86.0 as of 2019.
emit 14.7 times more CO2
Uganda emits 0.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Uganda vs. North Korea
North Korea: At a glance
How big is North Korea compared to Uganda? See an in-depth size comparison.