If you lived in El Salvador instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 97.4% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In El Salvador, that number is 0.5% of people as of 2020.

live 10.1 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In El Salvador, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 13.1% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In El Salvador, that number is 24.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 90.1% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In El Salvador, that number is 2.8% as of 2023.

pay a 33.3% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In El Salvador, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

make 21.0% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in El Salvador, the GDP per capita is $11,300 as of 2023.

be 60.2% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In El Salvador, however, that number is 26.6% as of 2022.

Life

be 66.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In El Salvador, 43.0 women do as of 2020.

be 53.1% 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 El Salvador, on the other hand, 12.1 children do as of 2022.

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 El Salvador, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 12.5% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In El Salvador, about 63.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 37.9% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. El Salvador spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 15.1% more on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In El Salvador, that number is 9.9% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 89.0% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In El Salvador, that number is 307 km.


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

El Salvador: At a glance

El Salvador is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 20,721 sq km. El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
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How big is El Salvador compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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