Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 93.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

live 6.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

be 28.6% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% 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 Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 55.6% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 2.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 14.4% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 18.1% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 31.8% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 36.0% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 83.6% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

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

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
Read more

How big is Guyana compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Guyana.or South Africa It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.