Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Oman 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 Oman, that number is 0.1% of people as of 2019.

live 11.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Oman, that number is 77 years (75 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.8 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Oman, the GDP per capita is $40,000 as of 2023.

be 94.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Oman, that number is 1.5% as of 2023.

Life

be 86.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Oman, 17.0 women do as of 2020.

be 44.1% 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 Oman, on the other hand, 14.4 children do as of 2022.

have 19.2% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Oman, there are 21.1 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 Oman, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 33.3% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Oman, about 96.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 18.2% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Oman spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 38.4% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Oman, that number is 5.3% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 25.2% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Oman, that number is 2,092 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Oman: At a glance

Oman is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 309,500 sq km. The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and he has since ruled as sultan. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis began staging marches, demonstrations, and sit-ins calling mostly for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. Additionally, in August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates.
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How big is Oman compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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