Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Rwanda, you would:
Health
be 7.6 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Rwanda, 2.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
be 4.9 times more likely to be obese
In Rwanda, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 5.5 times more money
Rwanda has a GDP per capita of $2,100 as of 2020, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $11,500 as of 2020.
be 56.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Rwanda, 38.2% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In South Africa, however, that number is 16.6% as of 2016.
be 10.6 times more likely to be unemployed
In Rwanda, 2.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2014. In South Africa, that number is 28.5% as of 2019.
pay a 50.0% higher top tax rate
Rwanda has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 52.0% less likely to die during childbirth
In Rwanda, approximately 248.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In South Africa, 119.0 women do as of 2017.
be 29.8% more likely to be literate
In Rwanda, the literacy rate is 73.2% as of 2018. In South Africa, it is 95.0% as of 2019.
have 29.8% fewer children
In Rwanda, there are approximately 26.4 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 77.4% more likely to have access to electricity
In Rwanda, approximately 53% of people have electricity access (76% in urban areas, and 48% 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 2.6 times more likely to have internet access
In Rwanda, approximately 27.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In South Africa, about 70.0% do as of 2020.
be 16.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Rwanda, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (92% 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 100.0% more on education
Rwanda spends 3.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. South Africa spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
spend 42.2% more on healthcare
Rwanda spends 6.4% 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, Rwanda Revenue Authority, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Rwanda? See an in-depth size comparison.