Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Namibia, you would:
Health
be 64.7% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Namibia, 11.6% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
live 1.2 years less
In Namibia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 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 64.5% more likely to be obese
In Namibia, 17.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 32.0% more money
Namibia has a GDP per capita of $10,300 as of 2024, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $13,600 as of 2024.
be 72.9% more likely to be unemployed
In Namibia, 19.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2024. In South Africa, that number is 33.2% as of 2024.
pay a 21.6% higher top tax rate
Namibia has a top tax rate of 37.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 15.1% less likely to die during childbirth
In Namibia, approximately 139.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2023. In South Africa, 118.0 women do as of 2023.
be 12.1% less likely to die during infancy
In Namibia, approximately 29.4 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 28.1% fewer children
In Namibia, there are approximately 23.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025. In South Africa, there are 17.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025.
Basic Needs
be 53.9% more likely to have access to electricity
In Namibia, approximately 56% of people have electricity access (75% in urban areas, and 33% in rural areas) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 86% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022.
be 18.8% more likely to have internet access
In Namibia, approximately 64.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In South Africa, about 76.0% do as of 2023.
be 10.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Namibia, approximately 86% of people have improved drinking water access (96% in urban areas, and 74% in rural areas) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2022.
Expenditures
spend 31.2% less on education
Namibia spends 9.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. South Africa spends 6.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
Geography
see 78.0% more coastline
Namibia has a total of 1,572 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, South African Revenue Service, Inland Revenue Department.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Namibia? See an in-depth size comparison.