Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lebanon 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 Lebanon, that number is 0.1% of people as of 2020.

live 13.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 13.1% more likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 58.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

pay a 55.6% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Lebanon, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

make 14.0% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 65.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

be 83.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lebanon, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 72.8% 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 Lebanon, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2022.

have 28.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 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 Lebanon, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 20.8% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Lebanon, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 74.2% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 92.0% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

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

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
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How big is Lebanon compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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