Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 98.4% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 0.3% of people as of 2020.

live 2.9 years longer

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

be 81.3% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Madagascar, that number is 5.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 93.4% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Madagascar, that number is 1.9% as of 2022.

pay a 55.6% lower top tax rate

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

make 88.9% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $13,500 as of 2022, while in Madagascar, the GDP per capita is $1,500 as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Madagascar, however, that number is 70.7% as of 2012.

Life

have 55.9% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Madagascar, there are 27.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Madagascar, 392.0 women do as of 2020.

be 18.6% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Madagascar, it is 77.3% as of 2021.

be 50.9% 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 Madagascar, on the other hand, 39.0 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 60.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 89% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Madagascar, that number is 35% of people on average (73% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 72.2% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Madagascar, about 20.0% do as of 2021.

be 42.0% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 56% of people on average (85% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 53.0% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Madagascar spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 54.7% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 3.9% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 72.6% more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Madagascar, that number is 4,828 km.

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

Madagascar: At a glance

Madagascar is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 581,540 sq km. Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. Following a lengthy mediation process led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA defeated RAVALOMANANA's favored candidate Jean-Louis ROBINSON in a presidential runoff and was inaugurated in January 2014. Most international observers, while noting some irregularities, declared polls to be a credible reflection of the Malagasy public's will.
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