Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Swaziland instead of Malaysia, you would:

Health

be 67.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malaysia, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Swaziland, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2020.

live 16.4 years less

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Swaziland, that number is 60 years (58 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 68.5% less money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $33,600 as of 2023, while in Swaziland, the GDP per capita is $10,600 as of 2023.

be 9.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Swaziland, that number is 37.6% as of 2023.

be 9.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 6.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Swaziland, however, that number is 58.9% as of 2016.

pay a 17.9% higher top tax rate

Malaysia has a top tax rate of 28.0% as of 2016. In Swaziland, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 57.0% more children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Swaziland, there are 22.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 20.8 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Swaziland, 437.0 women do as of 2017.

be 6.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Swaziland, on the other hand, 39.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 17.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Malaysia, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Swaziland, 82% of the population do as of 2022.

be 39.2% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Swaziland, about 59.0% do as of 2021.

be 17.6% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Malaysia, approximately 98% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 91% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Swaziland, that number is 80% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 28.2% more on education

Malaysia spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Swaziland spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 58.5% more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Swaziland, that number is 6.5% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Swaziland Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia.

Swaziland: At a glance

Swaziland is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 17,204 sq km. Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, Africa's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
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How big is Swaziland compared to Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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