South Africa vs United States
United States comes out ahead of South Africa on 392 of 600 statistics where one end is better, to 201 with 7 ties. South Africa leads on Travel. United States leads on Education, Manufacturing & Mining and Population and 9 more categories.
600 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 7 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 201
- Avg. percentile
- 43
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 392
- Avg. percentile
- 56
- Categories led
- 12
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.
| Statistic | South Africa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,453,084 24th of 235 | 349,035,494 3rd of 235 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 66.3 181st of 215 | 78.9 60th of 215 |
| GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $15,906 108th of 184 | $90,027 10th of 184 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 32.4% 180th of 181 | 4.2% 70th of 181 |
| Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 90.2% 160th of 214 | 100.0% tied 1st of 214 |
| Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 24.2 138th of 195 | 5.5 tied 53rd of 195 |
| GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $6,598 103rd of 185 | $90,027 7th of 185 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- EducationUnited States · 7 statistics
- TravelSouth Africa · 9 statistics
- Manufacturing & MiningUnited States · 3 statistics
- PopulationUnited States · 19 statistics
- Tech & BusinessUnited States · 21 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyUnited States · 35 statistics
- EnvironmentUnited States · 44 statistics
- EconomicsUnited States · 79 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentUnited States · 39 statistics
- Crime & SafetyUnited States · 46 statistics
- CultureUnited States · 71 statistics
- HealthUnited States · 192 statistics
- LawUnited States · 8 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.
| Statistic | South Africa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country | 1.13 per 10k 193rd of 193 | 124.7 per 10k 11th of 193 |
| Total Daily CostsCheapest Countries to Visit | $84.00 16th of 231 | $240 222nd of 231 |
| Daily Food And Dining CostCheapest Countries to Visit | $20.00 tied 20th of 231 | $62.00 226th of 231 |
| Daily Accommodation CostCheapest Countries to Visit | $39.00 15th of 231 | $112 219th of 231 |
| Daily Entertainment CostCheapest Countries to Visit | $14.00 tied 13th of 231 | $40.00 tied 216th of 231 |
| Total Incidence RateTuberculosis Rate by Country | 389 per 100k 197th of 208 | 3 per 100k tied 12th of 208 |
| Daily Local Transport CostCheapest Countries to Visit | $11.00 tied 22nd of 231 | $26.00 tied 212th of 231 |
| Crude IncidenceCervical Cancer Rates by Country | 35.6 per 100k tied 170th of 176 | 8.1 per 100k 32nd of 176 |
| Environmental HealthGreenest (Most Eco-Friendly) Countries | 24.4 153rd of 179 | 72.3 tied 18th of 179 |
| ASR IncidenceCervical Cancer Rates by Country | 35.3 per 100k 156th of 176 | 6.2 per 100k tied 26th of 176 |
| Cumulative Risk Ages 0-74Cervical Cancer Rates by Country | 3.6% tied 151st of 176 | 0.6% tied 25th of 176 |
| EPI Sanitation & Drinking WaterEnvironmental Performance Index by Country | 26.02 143rd of 176 | 91.62 17th of 176 |
| Unemployment Rate - ILOUnemployment by Country | 28.8% 154th of 155 | 3.7% tied 43rd of 155 |
| Male Obesity Rates (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country | 11.0% tied 41st of 170 | 42.2% 161st of 170 |
| Median Fixed Broadband DL SpeedInternet Speeds by Country | 48.31 Mbps 114th of 156 | 302.68 Mbps 8th of 156 |
| Average IQ (Lynn/Becker)Average IQ by Country | 68.87 tied 162nd of 197 | 97.43 29th of 197 |
| Life ExpectancyPast Life Expectancy by Country | 59.47 178th of 200 | 78.88 42nd of 200 |
| LP Natural EnvironmentLegatum Prosperity Index | 140th 140th of 167 | 28th 28th of 167 |
| Rate of Stabbing DeathsStabbing Deaths by Country | 1.81 per 100k 202nd of 202 | 0.06 per 100k tied 67th of 202 |
| Cost of Living Index (Numbeo)Cost of Living by Country | 30.0 tied 35th of 136 | 64.9 124th of 136 |
| Still Birth RateStillbirth Rates by Country | 16.2 per 1k 153rd of 193 | 2.7 per 1k tied 28th of 193 |
| Misery IndexWorst Countries to Live in | 79 172nd of 178 | 17 tied 59th of 178 |
| Median IncomeMedian Income by Country | $1,624 INT$ 107th of 162 | $19,306 INT$ 5th of 162 |
| Vacc. Rate DTP1Vaccination Rates by Country | 76.0% tied 171st of 193 | 98.0% tied 40th of 193 |
| Unemployment Rate - CIAUnemployment by Country | 33.2% 183rd of 184 | 4.2% tied 66th of 184 |
| Energy Trilemma Index RankEnergy Trilemma Energy Performance Index | 69th tied 91st of 126 | 10th 13th of 126 |
| GDI Male Life ExpectancyGender Development Index by Country | 62.6 164th of 193 | 76.9 44th of 193 |
| Energy Trilemma ScoreEnergy Trilemma Energy Performance Index | 57.6 91st of 126 | 78.9 13th of 126 |
| Male Life Expectancy UNLife Expectancy by Country | 63.12 203rd of 231 | 77.39 62nd of 231 |
| Male Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country | 13.7% 69th of 199 | 40.6% 190th of 199 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, South Africa or United States?
- United States comes out ahead of South Africa on 392 of 600 statistics where one end is better, to 201 with 7 ties. South Africa leads on Travel. United States leads on Education, Manufacturing & Mining and Population and 9 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, South Africa or United States?
- South Africa has a population of 65,453,084 (24th of 235 countries) and United States has 349,035,494 (3rd of 235).
- How do South Africa and United States compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?
- Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215), United States 78.9 (60th of 215) among countries. United States ranks better.
- How do South Africa and United States compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?
- GDP per Person at PPP (International $): South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184), United States $90,027 (10th of 184) among countries. United States ranks better.
- Where does South Africa beat United States most clearly?
- South Africa ranks far ahead on Total Daily Costs (Cheapest Countries to Visit): $84.00 vs $240; Daily Food And Dining Cost (Cheapest Countries to Visit): $20.00 vs $62.00; Daily Accommodation Cost (Cheapest Countries to Visit): $39.00 vs $112.
- Where does United States beat South Africa most clearly?
- United States ranks far ahead on Nurses and Midwives (Nurse Vacancies by Country): 124.7 per 10k vs 1.13 per 10k; Total Incidence Rate (Tuberculosis Rate by Country): 3 per 100k vs 389 per 100k; Crude Incidence (Cervical Cancer Rates by Country): 8.1 per 100k vs 35.6 per 100k.
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