Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Zambia instead of United States, you would:
Health
be 77.6% less likely to be obese
In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.
live 26.7 years less
In United States, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
pay a 11.6% lower top tax rate
United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In Zambia, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.
make 93.3% less money
United States has a GDP per capita of $59,800 as of 2017, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $4,000 as of 2017.
be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed
In United States, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Zambia, that number is 15.0% as of 2008.
be 3.6 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Zambia, however, that number is 54.4% as of 2015.
Life
have 3.3 times more children
In United States, there are approximately 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In Zambia, there are 40.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.
be 11.2 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United States, approximately 19.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Zambia, 213.0 women do as of 2017.
be 10.6 times more likely to die during infancy
In United States, approximately 5.3 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Zambia, on the other hand, 56.0 children do as of 2020.
Basic Needs
be 67.0% less likely to have access to electricity
In United States, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2016. In Zambia, 33% of the population do as of 2017.
be 83.6% less likely to have internet access
In United States, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2018. In Zambia, about 14.3% do as of 2018.
be 31.8% less likely to have access to improved drinking water
In United States, approximately 99% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2017. In Zambia, that number is 68% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2017.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Service, Zambia Revenue Authority.
Zambia: At a glance
How big is Zambia compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.