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

Health

be 75.4% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Tanzania, that number is 4.7% of people as of 2020.

live 4.9 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Tanzania, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2022.

be 70.3% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Tanzania, that number is 8.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 90.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Tanzania, that number is 2.6% as of 2023.

pay a 33.3% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Tanzania, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

make 74.8% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Tanzania, the GDP per capita is $3,600 as of 2023.

be 59.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Tanzania, however, that number is 26.4% as of 2018.

Life

have 83.6% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tanzania, there are 32.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 87.4% more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Tanzania, 238.0 women do as of 2020.

be 13.9% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Tanzania, it is 81.8% as of 2021.

be 40.7% more 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 Tanzania, on the other hand, 36.4 children do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 47.1% less 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 Tanzania, that number is 46% of people on average (77% in urban areas, and 23% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 55.6% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Tanzania, about 32.0% do as of 2021.

be 25.5% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Tanzania, that number is 72% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 59% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 50.0% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Tanzania spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 55.8% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Tanzania, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 49.1% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Tanzania, that number is 1,424 km.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Tanzania Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, South African Revenue Service.

Tanzania: At a glance

Tanzania is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 885,800 sq km. Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule ended in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. The formation of a government of national unity between Zanzibar's two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010.
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How big is Tanzania compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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