Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 97.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Argentina, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 13.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Argentina, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 85.3% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Argentina, the GDP per capita is $26,500 as of 2023.

be 77.9% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Argentina, that number is 6.2% as of 2023.

pay a 22.2% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Argentina, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

be 2.4 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Argentina, however, that number is 39.2% as of 2022.

Life

be 64.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Argentina, 45.0 women do as of 2020.

be 63.9% 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 Argentina, on the other hand, 9.3 children do as of 2022.

have 14.1% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Argentina, there are 15.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Argentina, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 85% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 20.8% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Argentina, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 24.2% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Argentina spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 16.3% more on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Argentina, that number is 10.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 78.3% more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Argentina, that number is 4,989 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Federal Administration of Public Revenue, South African Revenue Service.

Argentina: At a glance

Argentina is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 2,736,690 sq km. In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. In January 2013, Argentina assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.
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How big is Argentina compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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