Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Cambodia, you would:
Health
be 38.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Cambodia, 0.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
live 5.3 years less
In Cambodia, the average life expectancy is 71 years (69 years for men, 73 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 7.3 times more likely to be obese
In Cambodia, 3.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 2.7 times more money
Cambodia has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2020, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $11,500 as of 2020.
be 95.1 times more likely to be unemployed
In Cambodia, 0.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In South Africa, that number is 28.5% as of 2019.
pay a 2.2 times higher top tax rate
Cambodia has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 25.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Cambodia, approximately 160.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In South Africa, 119.0 women do as of 2017.
be 18.0% more likely to be literate
In Cambodia, the literacy rate is 80.5% as of 2015. In South Africa, it is 95.0% as of 2019.
be 12.5% less likely to die during infancy
In Cambodia, approximately 29.6 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.
Basic Needs
be 25.3% more likely to have access to electricity
In Cambodia, approximately 75% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 67% 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 2.1 times more likely to have internet access
In Cambodia, approximately 33.0% of the population has internet access as of 2019. In South Africa, about 70.0% do as of 2020.
be 13.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Cambodia, approximately 85% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 81% 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 3.1 times more on education
Cambodia spends 2.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. South Africa spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
spend 30.0% more on healthcare
Cambodia spends 7.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In South Africa, that number is 9.1% of GDP as of 2019.
Geography
see 6.3 times more coastline
Cambodia has a total of 443 km of coastline. In South Africa, that number is 2,798 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, General Department of Taxation, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Cambodia? See an in-depth size comparison.