Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 99.5% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Cyprus, that number is 0.1% of people as of 2017.

live 14.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Cyprus, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022.

be 23.0% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Cyprus, that number is 21.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.5 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Cyprus, the GDP per capita is $50,600 as of 2023.

be 78.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Cyprus, that number is 6.0% as of 2023.

be 16.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Cyprus, however, that number is 13.9% as of 2021.

pay a 22.2% lower top tax rate

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

Life

be 46.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Cyprus, 68.0 women do as of 2020.

be 67.7% 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 Cyprus, on the other hand, 8.4 children do as of 2022.

have 42.4% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cyprus, there are 10.2 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 the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Cyprus, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 26.4% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Cyprus, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

Geography

see 76.8% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Cyprus, that number is 648 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Inland Revenue Department of the Republic of Cyprus, The World Factbook, South African Revenue Service.

Cyprus: At a glance

Cyprus is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 9,241 sq km. A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The talks are ongoing. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.
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How big is Cyprus compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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