Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 97.4% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Venezuela, that number is 0.5% of people as of 2020.

live 8.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Venezuela, that number is 73 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 75.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Venezuela, that number is 6.9% as of 2018.

pay a 24.4% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Venezuela, the top tax rate is 34.0% as of 2016.

make 33.0% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $11,500 as of 2020, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $7,704 as of 2018.

be 99.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Venezuela, however, that number is 33.1% as of 2015.

Life

be 31.5% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 17.7 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 80.9% less on education

South Africa spends 6.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Venezuela spends 1.3% of total GDP on education as of 2017.

spend 40.7% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 9.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Venezuela, that number is 5.4% of GDP as of 2019.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministerio del Poder Popular de Finanzas, SENIAT, South African Revenue Service.

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
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How big is Venezuela compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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