Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Nicaragua instead of South Africa, you would:
Health
live 8.8 years longer
In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 66 years (63 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024. In Nicaragua, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2024.
be 81.0% less likely to die by suicide
South Africa has a suicide rate of 22.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Nicaragua, it is 4.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
see 49.1% less spent on your healthcare
South Africa spends $1,354 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Nicaragua spends $689 as of 2023.
Economy
be 84.4% less likely to be unemployed
In South Africa, 32.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Nicaragua, that number is 5.0% as of 2025.
make 51.9% less money
South Africa has a GDP per capita of $6,598 as of 2025, while in Nicaragua, the GDP per capita is $3,173 as of 2025.
Life
be 49.2% less likely to die during childbirth
In South Africa, approximately 118.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Nicaragua, 60.0 women do as of 2023.
be 61.2% less likely to die during infancy
In South Africa, approximately 24.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Nicaragua, on the other hand, 9.4 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 21.6% less likely to have internet access
In South Africa, approximately 78.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Nicaragua, about 61.4% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 52.3% less on education
South Africa spends 6.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Nicaragua spends 2.9% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
Geography
see 67.5% less coastline
South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Nicaragua, that number is 910 km.
Safety
be 74.0% less likely to be murdered
South Africa has a homicide rate of 43.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Nicaragua, that number is 11.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 44.5% less likely to die in a road accident
In South Africa, road accidents kill 24.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Nicaragua, they kill 13.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 96.7% less strain on fresh water
South Africa withdraws 68% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Nicaragua withdraws 2% as of 2022.
use 80.3% less electricity
South Africa uses 3,247 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Nicaragua uses 641 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 19.1% less likely to die from air pollution
In South Africa, air pollution causes 47.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Nicaragua, it causes 38.0 as of 2019.
emit 87.9% less CO2
South Africa emits 6.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Nicaragua emits 0.8 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: South Africa vs. Nicaragua
Nicaragua: At a glance
How big is Nicaragua compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.