Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Fiji instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 99.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Fiji, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2020.

live 9.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Fiji, that number is 74 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 84.2% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Fiji, that number is 4.5% as of 2017.

pay a 55.6% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Fiji, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

be 80.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Fiji, however, that number is 29.9% as of 2019.

Life

be 71.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 119.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Fiji, 34.0 women do as of 2017.

be 61.1% less likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Fiji, on the other hand, 10.1 children do as of 2022.

have 10.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 18.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Fiji, there are 16.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 28.6% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 70.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Fiji, about 50.0% do as of 2019.

Expenditures

spend 25.0% less on education

South Africa spends 6.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Fiji spends 5.1% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 58.2% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 9.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Fiji, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2019.

Geography

see 59.6% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Fiji, that number is 1,129 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, South African Revenue Service, Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority.

Fiji: At a glance

Fiji is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 18,274 sq km. Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012, he promised to hold elections in 2014.
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How big is Fiji compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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