Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 97.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 10.8 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Malaysia, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 44.9% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Malaysia, that number is 15.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.3 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $33,600 as of 2023.

be 86.2% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 3.9% as of 2023.

be 62.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Malaysia, however, that number is 6.2% as of 2021.

pay a 37.8% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Malaysia, the top tax rate is 28.0% as of 2016.

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 Malaysia, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 74.5% 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 Malaysia, on the other hand, 6.6 children do as of 2022.

have 19.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 14.2 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 Malaysia, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 34.7% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Malaysia, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 40.9% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Malaysia spends 3.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 52.3% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Malaysia, that number is 4.1% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 67.1% more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Malaysia, that number is 4,675 km.

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

Malaysia: At a glance

Malaysia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 328,657 sq km. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's withdrawal in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies and has introduced some civil reforms.
Read more

How big is Malaysia 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 Malaysia.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.