Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Trinidad and Tobago instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 96.3% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 0.7% of people as of 2020.

live 10.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 34.3% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 18.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 72.6% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $13,500 as of 2022, while in Trinidad and Tobago, the GDP per capita is $23,300 as of 2022.

be 86.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 3.8% as of 2022.

pay a 44.4% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Trinidad and Tobago, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

be 20.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Trinidad and Tobago, however, that number is 20.0% as of 2014.

Life

be 78.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Trinidad and Tobago, 27.0 women do as of 2020.

be 38.8% 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 Trinidad and Tobago, on the other hand, 15.8 children do as of 2022.

have 40.7% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are 10.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 12.0% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 89% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In Trinidad and Tobago, 100% of the population do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 37.9% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Trinidad and Tobago spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 15.1% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 87.1% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Trinidad and Tobago, that number is 362 km.

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

Trinidad and Tobago: At a glance

Trinidad and Tobago is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 5,128 sq km. First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.
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How big is Trinidad and Tobago compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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