Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Antigua and Barbuda, you would:
Health
be 15.6 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Antigua and Barbuda, 1.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In South Africa, that number is 17.2% of people as of 2024.
live 11.5 years less
In Antigua and Barbuda, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In South Africa, that number is 66 years (63 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.
be 15.3 times more likely to die by suicide
Antigua and Barbuda has a suicide rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In South Africa, it is 22.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 73.4% less money
Antigua and Barbuda has a GDP per capita of $24,819 as of 2025, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $6,598 as of 2025.
Life
have 57.3% more children
In Antigua and Barbuda, there are approximately 11.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In South Africa, there are 18.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 3.4 times more likely to die during childbirth
In Antigua and Barbuda, approximately 35.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In South Africa, 118.0 women do as of 2023.
be 3.5 times more likely to die during infancy
In Antigua and Barbuda, approximately 7.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In South Africa, on the other hand, 24.2 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 12.3% less likely to have access to electricity
In Antigua and Barbuda, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In South Africa, that number is 88% of people on average (91% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2023.
Expenditures
spend 93.6% more on education
Antigua and Barbuda spends 3.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. South Africa spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2024.
spend 2.3 times more on healthcare
Antigua and Barbuda spends 3.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In South Africa, that number is 8.9% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 18.3 times more coastline
Antigua and Barbuda has a total of 153 km of coastline. In South Africa, that number is 2,798 km.
Safety
be 4.1 times more likely to be murdered
Antigua and Barbuda has a homicide rate of 10.7 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In South Africa, that number is 43.7 per 100,000 as of 2022.
be 3.3 times more likely to die in a road accident
In Antigua and Barbuda, road accidents kill 7.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In South Africa, they kill 24.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 49.9% less home broadband
Antigua and Barbuda has 10.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. South Africa has 5.3 as of 2024.
live with 8.0 times more strain on fresh water
Antigua and Barbuda withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. South Africa withdraws 68% as of 2022.
Environment
be 2.5 times more likely to die from air pollution
In Antigua and Barbuda, air pollution causes 19.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In South Africa, it causes 47.0 as of 2019.
emit 81.1% more CO2
Antigua and Barbuda emits 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. South Africa emits 6.9 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: Antigua and Barbuda vs. South Africa
MORE COMPARISONS
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Antigua and Barbuda? See an in-depth size comparison.