Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Guyana instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

be 3.0 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 20.9 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $35,600 as of 2022.

be 4.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

Life

have 26.5% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 11.2% less likely to be literate

In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

Basic Needs

be 76.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 53% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Guyana, that number is 93% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2021.

Geography

see 81.6% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

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

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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