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

Health

be 94.8% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Burundi, that number is 1.0% of people as of 2020.

live 2.1 years longer

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

be 80.9% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Burundi, that number is 5.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 96.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Burundi, that number is 0.9% as of 2023.

make 93.7% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Burundi, the GDP per capita is $900 as of 2023.

be 3.9 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Burundi, however, that number is 64.6% as of 2014.

Life

have 95.5% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Burundi, there are 34.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Burundi, 494.0 women do as of 2020.

be 21.4% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Burundi, it is 74.7% as of 2021.

be 46.3% more 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 Burundi, on the other hand, 37.8 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 88.1% less 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 Burundi, that number is 10% of people on average (63% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 91.9% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Burundi, about 5.8% do as of 2021.

be 15.6% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Burundi, that number is 82% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 79% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 24.2% less on education

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

spend 24.4% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Burundi, that number is 6.5% of GDP as of 2020.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Burundi: At a glance

Burundi is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 25,680 sq km. Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The government of President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, who was reelected in 2010, continues to face many political and economic challenges.
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How big is Burundi compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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