Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Ethiopia, you would:
Health
be 21.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Ethiopia, 0.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
live 2.9 years less
In Ethiopia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022.
be 6.3 times more likely to be obese
In Ethiopia, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 5.0 times more money
Ethiopia has a GDP per capita of $2,300 as of 2020, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $11,500 as of 2020.
be 29.4% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Ethiopia, 23.5% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In South Africa, however, that number is 16.6% as of 2016.
be 63.0% more likely to be unemployed
In Ethiopia, 17.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2012. In South Africa, that number is 28.5% as of 2019.
pay a 28.6% higher top tax rate
Ethiopia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 70.3% less likely to die during childbirth
In Ethiopia, approximately 401.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In South Africa, 119.0 women do as of 2017.
be 83.4% more likely to be literate
In Ethiopia, the literacy rate is 51.8% as of 2017. In South Africa, it is 95.0% as of 2019.
be 22.8% less likely to die during infancy
In Ethiopia, approximately 33.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In South Africa, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2022.
have 39.1% fewer children
In Ethiopia, there are approximately 30.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In South Africa, there are 18.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 100.0% more likely to have access to electricity
In Ethiopia, approximately 47% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 34% in rural areas) as of 2019. In South Africa, that number is 94% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2019.
be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access
In Ethiopia, approximately 24.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In South Africa, about 70.0% do as of 2020.
be 26.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Ethiopia, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 33.3% more on education
Ethiopia spends 5.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. South Africa spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
spend 2.8 times more on healthcare
Ethiopia spends 3.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In South Africa, that number is 9.1% of GDP as of 2019.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Ethiopia? See an in-depth size comparison.