Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Madagascar, you would:
Health
be 63.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Madagascar, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
live 2.9 years less
In Madagascar, the average life expectancy is 68 years (67 years for men, 70 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.
be 5.3 times more likely to be obese
In Madagascar, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 8.4 times more money
Madagascar has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2023, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $14,300 as of 2023.
be 76.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Madagascar, 70.7% live below the poverty line as of 2012. In South Africa, however, that number is 16.6% as of 2016.
be 9.1 times more likely to be unemployed
In Madagascar, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In South Africa, that number is 28.0% as of 2023.
pay a 2.2 times higher top tax rate
Madagascar has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 67.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Madagascar, approximately 392.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In South Africa, 127.0 women do as of 2020.
be 22.9% more likely to be literate
In Madagascar, the literacy rate is 77.3% as of 2021. In South Africa, it is 95.0% as of 2019.
be 33.7% less likely to die during infancy
In Madagascar, approximately 39.0 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.
have 35.9% fewer children
In Madagascar, there are approximately 27.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In South Africa, there are 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 2.4 times more likely to have access to electricity
In Madagascar, approximately 36% of people have electricity access (73% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 86% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022.
be 3.6 times more likely to have internet access
In Madagascar, approximately 20.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In South Africa, about 72.0% do as of 2021.
be 72.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Madagascar, approximately 56% of people have improved drinking water access (85% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 2.1 times more on education
Madagascar spends 3.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. South Africa spends 6.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 2.2 times more on healthcare
Madagascar spends 3.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 8.6% of GDP as of 2020.
Geography
see 42.0% less coastline
Madagascar has a total of 4,828 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, General Direction of Taxes, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Madagascar? See an in-depth size comparison.