Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Colombia 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 Colombia, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 9.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 21.2% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Colombia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 31.5% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

be 65.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

pay a 26.7% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Colombia, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Colombia, however, that number is 36.6% as of 2022.

Life

be 40.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

be 55.0% 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 Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

have 15.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 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 Colombia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 25.8% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Colombia spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 14.7% more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Colombia, that number is 3,208 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), South African Revenue Service.

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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