Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

live 6.1 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Mongolia, that number is 71 years (67 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022.

be 27.2% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Mongolia, that number is 20.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 14.0% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Mongolia, the GDP per capita is $16,300 as of 2023.

be 78.1% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Mongolia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.

pay a 77.8% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Mongolia, the top tax rate is 10.0% as of 2016.

be 67.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Mongolia, however, that number is 27.8% as of 2020.

Life

be 69.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Mongolia, 39.0 women do as of 2020.

be 22.0% 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 Mongolia, on the other hand, 20.2 children do as of 2022.

have 15.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mongolia, there are 14.9 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 people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Mongolia, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 73% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 16.7% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Mongolia, about 84.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 28.8% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Mongolia spends 4.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 43.0% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Mongolia, that number is 4.9% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Mongolia: At a glance

Mongolia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 1,553,556 sq km. The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party that lasted until January 2012. In 2009, current President ELBEGDORJ of the Democratic Party was elected to office and was re-elected for his second term in June 2013. In 2010, the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. Shortly thereafter, a new party was formed by former president ENKHBAYAR, which adopted the MPRP name. In the 2012 Parliamentary elections, a coalition of four political parties led by the Democratic Party, gained control of the Parliament.
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