Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

live 12.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Montenegro, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 17.7% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Montenegro, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 94.4% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Montenegro, the GDP per capita is $27,800 as of 2023.

be 45.5% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Montenegro, that number is 15.2% as of 2023.

pay a 80.0% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Montenegro, the top tax rate is 9.0% as of 2016.

be 27.7% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Montenegro, however, that number is 21.2% as of 2020.

Life

be 95.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Montenegro, 6.0 women do as of 2020.

be 87.5% 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 Montenegro, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2022.

have 38.4% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Montenegro, there are 10.9 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 Montenegro, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 13.9% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Montenegro, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 32.6% more on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Montenegro, that number is 11.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 89.5% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Montenegro, that number is 294 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Department of Public Revenues, Montenegro, South African Revenue Service.

Montenegro: At a glance

Montenegro is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 13,452 sq km. The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006.
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