Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 16.4 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 3.0 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $43,000 as of 2023.

be 78.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2023.

pay a 26.7% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Puerto Rico, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 73.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 34.0 women do as of 2020.

be 76.7% 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 Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.

have 55.9% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 7.8 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 Puerto Rico, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 45.5% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Puerto Rico spends 3.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

Geography

see 82.1% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, South African Revenue Service.

Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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How big is Puerto Rico compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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