Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Norway 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 Norway, that number is 0.1% of people as of 2018.

live 17.2 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Norway, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 18.4% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Norway, that number is 23.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.3 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $90,500 as of 2023.

be 87.2% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 3.6% as of 2023.

be 26.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

pay a 14.4% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Norway, the top tax rate is 38.5% as of 2017.

Life

be 98.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Norway, 2.0 women do as of 2020.

be 91.1% 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 Norway, on the other hand, 2.3 children do as of 2022.

have 41.2% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Norway, there are 10.4 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 Norway, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 37.5% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 10.6% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Norway spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 32.6% more on healthcare

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

Geography

see 9.0 times more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Norwegian Tax Administration, South African Revenue Service.

Norway: At a glance

Norway is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,282 sq km. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.
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How big is Norway compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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