Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 15.8 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Taiwan, that number is 81 years (78 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 3.3 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Taiwan, the GDP per capita is $47,800 as of 2019.

be 86.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Taiwan, that number is 3.7% as of 2019.

be 91.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Taiwan, however, that number is 1.5% as of 2012.

Life

be 84.7% 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 Taiwan, on the other hand, 4.0 children do as of 2022.

have 58.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Taiwan, there are 7.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 25.0% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Taiwan, about 90.0% do as of 2021.

Geography

see 44.0% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Taiwan, that number is 1,566 km.

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

Taiwan: At a glance

Taiwan is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 32,260 sq km. In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist control after World War II. Following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Beginning in the 1950s, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. This process expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist (Kuomintang or KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's eventual status - as well as domestic priorities for economic reform and growth.
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How big is Taiwan compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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