Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 37.0% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malawi, 8.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zambia, that number is 11.1% of people as of 2020.

live 6.2 years less

In Malawi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 76 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 39.7% more likely to be obese

In Malawi, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zambia, that number is 8.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.3 times more money

Malawi has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2022, while in Zambia, the GDP per capita is $3,400 as of 2022.

be 14.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Malawi, 5.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Zambia, that number is 4.4% as of 2022.

pay a 16.7% higher top tax rate

Malawi 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 64.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Malawi, approximately 381.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zambia, 135.0 women do as of 2020.

be 28.8% more likely to be literate

In Malawi, the literacy rate is 67.3% as of 2021. In Zambia, it is 86.7% as of 2018.

have 28.2% more children

In Malawi, there are approximately 26.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zambia, there are 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 11.0% more likely to die during infancy

In Malawi, approximately 33.4 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 3.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Malawi, approximately 14% of people have electricity access (54% in urban areas, and 6% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Zambia, that number is 47% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 12.5% less likely to have internet access

In Malawi, approximately 24.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Zambia, about 21.0% do as of 2021.

be 22.2% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Malawi, approximately 92% of people have improved drinking water access (97% in urban areas, and 91% 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 27.6% more on education

Malawi spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Zambia spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, Zambia Revenue Authority.

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 Malawi? See an in-depth size comparison.

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