Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 84.3% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

live 4.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 47.0% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gabon, that number is 15.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 38.5% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $19,800 as of 2023.

be 27.3% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 20.4% 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 Gabon, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

be 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

Life

have 45.2% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 25.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 78.7% more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gabon, 227.0 women do as of 2020.

be 10.0% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Gabon, it is 85.5% as of 2021.

be 10.4% 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 Gabon, on the other hand, 28.6 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 51.5% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Gabon spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 60.5% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 68.4% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Gabon, that number is 885 km.

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

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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