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

Health

live 15.3 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 67 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024. In Cyprus, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 18.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Zambia spends $244 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Cyprus spends $4,538 as of 2023.

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have 11.0 times more doctors per person

Zambia has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Cyprus has 35.6 as of 2022.

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have 44.6% more access to essential health services

Zambia scores 56 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Cyprus scores 81 as of 2021.

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be 57.6% less likely to die by suicide

Zambia has a suicide rate of 7.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Cyprus, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 86.2% more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 11.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Cyprus, that number is 21.6% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 16.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Cyprus, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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be 76.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Cyprus, however, that number is 13.9% as of 2021.

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make 31.7 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $1,318 as of 2025, while in Cyprus, the GDP per capita is $41,783 as of 2025.

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Life

be 83.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 85.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Cyprus, 14.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 38.5% more likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 71.8% as of 2024. In Cyprus, it is 99.4% as of 2021.

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be 88.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 34.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Cyprus, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 67.8% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 32.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cyprus, there are 10.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 95.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 18% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Cyprus, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 5.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 17.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Cyprus, about 89.6% do as of 2024.

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be 35.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 73% of people have access to drinking water (90% in urban areas, and 58% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Cyprus, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 16.5% more on education

Zambia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Cyprus spends 4.7% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 35.8% more on healthcare

Zambia spends 6.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Cyprus, that number is 8.1% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 77.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zambia, road accidents kill 17.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Cyprus, they kill 3.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 47.5 times more home broadband

Zambia has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Cyprus has 37.6 as of 2024.

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use 5.3 times more electricity

Zambia uses 727 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Cyprus uses 3,842 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 10.7 times more strain on fresh water

Zambia withdraws 3% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Cyprus withdraws 30% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 68.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Zambia, air pollution causes 50.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Cyprus, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 10.0 times more CO2

Zambia emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Cyprus emits 5.4 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Cyprus: At a glance

Cyprus is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 9,241 sq km. A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The talks are ongoing. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.
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How big is Cyprus compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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