Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 13.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Poland, that number is 79 years (75 years for men, 83 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 Poland, that number is 23.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.1 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Poland, the GDP per capita is $44,100 as of 2023.

be 89.6% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Poland, that number is 2.9% as of 2023.

be 28.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Poland, however, that number is 11.8% as of 2022.

pay a 28.9% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Poland, the top tax rate is 32.0% as of 2016.

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 Poland, 2.0 women do as of 2020.

be 83.9% 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 Poland, on the other hand, 4.2 children do as of 2022.

have 52.5% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Poland, there are 8.4 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 Poland, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 18.1% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Poland, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 21.2% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Poland spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 24.4% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Poland, that number is 6.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 84.3% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Poland, that number is 440 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, South African Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance, Poland.

Poland: At a glance

Poland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,255 sq km. Poland's history as a state begins near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in central and eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force with over ten million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed and with large investments in defense, energy, and other infrastructure, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.
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How big is Poland compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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