Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of United States, you would:
Health
be 21.8% less likely to be obese
In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
live 15.3 years less
In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022.
Economy
make 79.1% less money
United States has a GDP per capita of $64,600 as of 2022, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $13,500 as of 2022.
be 7.9 times more likely to be unemployed
In United States, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 28.8% as of 2022.
pay a 13.6% higher top tax rate
United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
have 45.1% more children
In United States, there are approximately 12.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In South Africa, there are 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 6.0 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United States, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In South Africa, 127.0 women do as of 2020.
be 5.0 times more likely to die during infancy
In United States, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In South Africa, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 10.7% less likely to have access to electricity
In United States, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In South Africa, 89% of the population do as of 2021.
be 21.7% less likely to have internet access
In United States, approximately 92.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In South Africa, about 72.0% do as of 2021.
Expenditures
spend 54.3% less on healthcare
United States spends 18.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 8.6% of GDP as of 2020.
Geography
see 86.0% less coastline
United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In South Africa, that number is 2,798 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Service, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.