Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 16.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 3.8 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $54,100 as of 2023.

be 85.5% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.1% as of 2023.

be 12.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In United Kingdom, however, that number is 18.6% as of 2017.

Life

be 92.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

be 85.2% 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 United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 39.0% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 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 United Kingdom, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 34.7% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In United Kingdom, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 16.7% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. United Kingdom spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 39.5% more on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 12.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 4.4 times more coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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How big is United Kingdom compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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