Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Virgin Islands instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

live 15.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.7 times more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $13,500 as of 2022, while in Virgin Islands, the GDP per capita is $37,000 as of 2016.

be 55.4% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.

be 74.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Virgin Islands, however, that number is 28.9% as of 2002.

Life

be 70.4% 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 Virgin Islands, on the other hand, 7.7 children do as of 2022.

have 37.3% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Virgin Islands, there are 11.1 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 Virgin Islands, 100% of the population do as of 2021.

be 10.0% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Virgin Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2022.

Geography

see 93.3% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 km of coastline. In Virgin Islands, that number is 188 km.

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

Virgin Islands: At a glance

Virgin Islands (sometimes abbreviated USVI) is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 346 sq km. The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
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How big is Virgin Islands compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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