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

Health

live 10.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 66 years (63 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024. In Seychelles, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.

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have 8.3 times more doctors per person

South Africa has 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Seychelles has 66.0 as of 2022.

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be 80.9% less likely to die by suicide

South Africa has a suicide rate of 22.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Seychelles, it is 4.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 2.9 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $6,598 as of 2025, while in Seychelles, the GDP per capita is $19,449 as of 2025.

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Life

be 64.4% 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 Seychelles, 42.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 46.7% 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 Seychelles, on the other hand, 12.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 40.5% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 18.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Seychelles, there are 11.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 14.0% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 88% of people have electricity access (91% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Seychelles, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 12.1% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 78.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Seychelles, about 87.8% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 26.1% less on education

South Africa spends 6.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Seychelles spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 49.7% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Seychelles, that number is 4.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 82.5% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Seychelles, that number is 491 km.

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Safety

be 81.8% less likely to be murdered

South Africa has a homicide rate of 43.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Seychelles, that number is 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2022.

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be 73.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In South Africa, road accidents kill 24.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Seychelles, they kill 6.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 5.9 times more home broadband

South Africa has 5.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Seychelles has 31.6 as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Seychelles: At a glance

Seychelles is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 455 sq km. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in May 2011.
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How big is Seychelles compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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