Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 97.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Uruguay, that number is 0.4% of people as of 2020.

live 13.1 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Uruguay, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.1 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $30,700 as of 2023.

be 70.2% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.

be 40.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Uruguay, however, that number is 9.9% as of 2022.

pay a 33.3% lower top tax rate

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

Life

be 85.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Uruguay, 19.0 women do as of 2020.

be 67.9% 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 Uruguay, on the other hand, 8.3 children do as of 2022.

have 28.8% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uruguay, there are 12.6 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 Uruguay, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

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 Uruguay, about 90.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 30.3% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Uruguay spends 4.6% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 76.4% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Uruguay, that number is 660 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Dirección General Impositiva, South African Revenue Service.

Uruguay: At a glance

Uruguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 175,015 sq km. Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
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How big is Uruguay compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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