Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 37.7% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, that number is 11.9% of people as of 2020.

be 45.2% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Zimbabwe, that number is 15.5% of people as of 2016.

live 2.0 years less

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Zimbabwe, that number is 63 years (61 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 68.7% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Zimbabwe, that number is 8.8% as of 2023.

make 75.5% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Zimbabwe, the GDP per capita is $3,500 as of 2023.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Zimbabwe, however, that number is 38.3% as of 2019.

pay a 11.1% higher top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Zimbabwe, the top tax rate is 50.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 62.7% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Zimbabwe, there are 28.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.8 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, 357.0 women do as of 2020.

be 10.3% 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 Zimbabwe, on the other hand, 28.5 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 42.1% 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 Zimbabwe, that number is 50% of people on average (85% in urban areas, and 32% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 51.4% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Zimbabwe, about 35.0% do as of 2021.

be 20.5% 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 Zimbabwe, that number is 77% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 67% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 45.5% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Zimbabwe spends 3.6% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 60.5% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Zimbabwe, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Zimbabwe: At a glance

Zimbabwe is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 386,847 sq km. The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 1997 and intensified after 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. In April 2005, the capital city of Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months; a period of increasing hyperinflation ensued. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC-T opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing "government of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in June 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the elections, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.
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