Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Madagascar instead of Swaziland, you would:

Health

be 98.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Swaziland, 26.8% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 0.3% of people as of 2020.

live 8.5 years longer

In Swaziland, the average life expectancy is 60 years (58 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022. In Madagascar, that number is 68 years (67 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022.

be 67.9% less likely to be obese

In Swaziland, 16.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Madagascar, that number is 5.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 91.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Swaziland, 22.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Madagascar, that number is 1.9% as of 2022.

pay a 39.4% lower top tax rate

Swaziland has a top tax rate of 33.0% as of 2016. In Madagascar, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

make 83.5% less money

Swaziland has a GDP per capita of $9,100 as of 2022, while in Madagascar, the GDP per capita is $1,500 as of 2022.

be 20.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Swaziland, 58.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Madagascar, however, that number is 70.7% as of 2012.

Life

have 23.8% more children

In Swaziland, there are approximately 22.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Madagascar, there are 27.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 12.6% less likely to be literate

In Swaziland, the literacy rate is 88.4% as of 2018. In Madagascar, it is 77.3% as of 2021.

Basic Needs

be 57.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Swaziland, approximately 83% of people have electricity access (94% in urban areas, and 79% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Madagascar, that number is 35% of people on average (73% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 66.1% less likely to have internet access

In Swaziland, approximately 59.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Madagascar, about 20.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.1% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Swaziland, approximately 80% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 56% of people on average (85% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 38.0% less on education

Swaziland spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Madagascar spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 40.0% less on healthcare

Swaziland spends 6.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Madagascar, that number is 3.9% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Swaziland Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, General Direction of Taxes.

Madagascar: At a glance

Madagascar is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 581,540 sq km. Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. Following a lengthy mediation process led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA defeated RAVALOMANANA's favored candidate Jean-Louis ROBINSON in a presidential runoff and was inaugurated in January 2014. Most international observers, while noting some irregularities, declared polls to be a credible reflection of the Malagasy public's will.
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