Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 93.2% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Nigeria, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

be 68.6% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Nigeria, that number is 8.9% of people as of 2016.

live 4.0 years less

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Nigeria, that number is 61 years (60 years for men, 63 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 89.0% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Nigeria, that number is 3.1% as of 2023.

pay a 46.7% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Nigeria, the top tax rate is 24.0% as of 2016.

make 60.1% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Nigeria, the GDP per capita is $5,700 as of 2023.

be 2.4 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Nigeria, however, that number is 40.1% as of 2018.

Life

be 63.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Nigeria, 47.0 women do as of 2020.

have 91.0% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Nigeria, there are 33.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 34.7% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Nigeria, it is 62.0% as of 2018.

be 2.2 times 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 Nigeria, on the other hand, 56.7 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 30.1% less 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 Nigeria, that number is 60% of people on average (89% in urban areas, and 26% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 23.6% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Nigeria, about 55.0% do as of 2021.

be 14.6% 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 Nigeria, that number is 83% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 69% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 92.4% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Nigeria spends 0.5% of total GDP on education as of 2013.

spend 60.5% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Nigeria, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 69.5% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Nigeria, that number is 853 km.

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

Nigeria: At a glance

Nigeria is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 910,768 sq km. British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. In January 2014, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.
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