The Human Truth Foundation

South Africa (Republic of South Africa)

http://www.humantruth.info/south_africa.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#south_africa

South Africa
Republic of South Africa
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index77th best
CapitalPretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial)
Land Area1 213 090km21
LocationAfrica
Population57.8m2
Life Expectancy62.34yrs (2017)3
GNI$12 948 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesZA, ZAF, 7105
Internet Domain.za6
CurrencyRand (ZAR)7
Telephone+278

1. Overview

#netherlands #UK

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting, which has grown in recent years, came to a head in September 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI resigned, and Kgalema MOTLANTHE, the party's General-Secretary, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in April 2009.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverAn astonishingly diverse region fused by its prolific wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and remnants of ancient culture, South Africa will etch itself onto your heart. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu called South Africa the `Rainbow Nation´, his words described the very essence of what makes this country extraordinary. Certainly, the blend of peoples and cultures that his oft-used moniker referred to is instantly evident, but the country´s diversity stretches far beyond its people.

Without straying beyond South Africa´s borders you can sleep under the stars in a desert or hike to snow-capped peaks. The hills of Zululand and the Wild Coast provide a bucolic antidote to the bustle of large cities like Johannesburg and Durban. Wildlife watching ranges from remote safari walks to up-close encounters with waddling penguins.

Variety continues in the cuisine, with delicate West Coast seafood, hearty Karoo meat feasts, fragrant Cape Malay stews and spicy Durban curries. And southwest of it all sits Cape Town, where gourmands, art lovers, thrill seekers and beach babes come together to sip, surf and sunbathe in beautiful surrounds.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. South Africa National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
106=St Lucia0.715
106=Palestine0.715
108Guyana0.714
109S. Africa0.713
110Jamaica0.709
111Samoa0.707
112=Lebanon0.706
112=Gabon0.706
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
90Armenia$13 158
91Turkmenistan$13 021
92Iran$13 001
93S. Africa$12 948
94Suriname$12 672
95Sri Lanka$12 578
96Paraguay$12 349
97Barbados$12 306
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
74Maldives79.9
75Armenia80.0
76China80.0
77S. Africa80.1
78Colombia80.6
79Kuwait80.7
80Jordan80.7
81Belarus81.4
Africa Avg110.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. South Africa's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

South Africa's population is predicted to fall to 54 711 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.39. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
21UK67.1m
22France65.0m
23Italy60.6m
24S. Africa57.8m
25Tanzania56.3m
26Myanmar (Burma)53.7m
27Kenya51.4m
28S. Korea51.2m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
161Haiti63.2
162Malawi62.9
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
165Djibouti62.3
166Gambia62.1
167Afghanistan62.0
168Burundi61.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
57S. Africa2.39
58Iran1.60
59Venezuela2.41
60Ecuador2.41
61Mauritius1.59
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
71Cambodia10.4
72=Egypt10.5
72=Libya10.5
72=S. Africa10.5
75Bangladesh10.6
76=Nepal10.8
76=Bhutan10.8
76=Micronesia10.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
69Congo, (Brazzaville)7.6%
70Botswana7.3%
71St Lucia7.2%
72S. Africa7.1%
73S. Sudan6.7%
74Grenada6.6%
75Armenia6.5%
76Bhutan6.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
155Australia2.1%
156Serbia2.0%
157Venezuela1.8%
158S. Africa1.7%
159Iran1.7%
160Libya1.7%
161Gabon1.7%
162Vanuatu1.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #south_africa #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
43Bolivia53.6
44Peru53.8
45Kosovo54.2
46S. Africa56.1
47Mexico56.4
48Ecuador57.9
Africa Avg108.2
World Avg87.9
q=199.
South Africa does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. S. Africa comes in the best 20 when it comes to LGBT equality18 (one of the best in Africa) and in freethought19 (one of the lowest in Africa). It does better than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights20, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21, supporting press freedom22 and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms23. But, there's bad news too. S. Africa does worse than average in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)24 (still good for Africa), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice25, opposing gender inequality26 (still low for Africa) and in speed of uptake of HR treaties27. Violence against women is far too prevalent and frequently goes unreported, and the government has yet to introduce a strategy to combat it28. Progress is always going to be difficult in a country where the richest 10% hold 51% of the country's entire income29.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. South Africa's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #South_Africa #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
33Congo, DR113.1
34Somalia113.1
35Uganda113.3
36S. Africa113.4
37Togo113.6
38Liberia113.8
39Mozambique113.9
40Central African Rep.115.5
41Guinea-Bissau116.4
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
164=Congo, DR113.1
165Somalia113.1
166Uganda113.3
167S. Africa113.4
168Togo113.6
169Liberia113.8
170Mozambique113.9
171Micronesia114.2
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

South Africa has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. S. Africa comes in the best 20 when it comes to its suicide rate32 (one of the lowest in Africa). It does better than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33 (the best in Africa), its fertility rate13 and in its smoking rate34 (but high for Africa). But, there's bad news too. S. Africa does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate26 (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate35 and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its immunizations take-up36. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in South Africa improved by just +2.8yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
161Haiti63.2
162Malawi62.9
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
165Djibouti62.3
166Gambia62.1
167Afghanistan62.0
168Burundi61.7
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
35
Pos.2016
Per Capita35
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
137Sweden9.2
138=Chile9.3
138=Grenada9.3
138=S. Africa9.3
141St Kitts & Nevis9.4
142=Tanzania9.4
143Uganda9.5
144Barbados9.6
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
54Turkmenistan2.33
55Trinidad & Tobago1.63
56Montenegro1.63
57S. Africa2.39
58Iran1.60
59Venezuela2.41
60Ecuador2.41
61Mauritius1.59
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
34
Pos.201434
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
84Pakistan 511
85Cape Verde 515
86Tajikistan 533
87S. Africa 537
88Iceland 551
89Norway 556
90Gabon 559
91Venezuela 565
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate32
Pos.2013
Per 100k32
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
6Azerbaijan1.3
7S. Africa1.8
8Bahamas2.5
9Peru2.9
10Kuwait3.6
11Armenia3.9
12Dominican Rep.4.6
Africa Avg6.13
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
53Bulgaria53
54Panama54
55Ukraine55
56S. Africa56
57Slovenia57
58Morocco58
59Cyprus59
60Guinea60
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better37
Pos.2016
%37
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
86Paraguay53.5
87=Kazakhstan53.6
87=Azerbaijan53.6
89S. Africa53.8
90Georgia54.2
91=Switzerland54.3
91=Austria54.3
93Armenia54.4
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
26
Pos.2015
Per 100026
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
99Thailand44.6
100Antigua & Barbuda44.8
101Fiji44.8
102S. Africa45.5
103Cuba45.6
104Suriname46.1
105Timor-Leste (E. Timor)46.6
106Chile47.8
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
36
Pos.2015
Avg %36
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
172Ethiopia73.9
173Pakistan73.0
174Liberia72.6
175S. Africa72.5
176=Angola71.9
176=Madagascar71.9
178Iraq70.7
179Afghanistan70.6
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. South Africa's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Seychelles55.3
2Kenya57.4
3=Zambia57.6
...
40Burundi102.0
41Swaziland102.3
42Botswana106.8
43S. Africa106.8
44Lesotho109.7
45Sao Tome & Principe110.3
46Congo, (Brazzaville)111.8
47Mauritania114.5
48=S. Sudan118.0
Africa Avg90.1
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)38
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank38
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
149Oman104.7
150Moldova104.8
151Botswana106.8
152S. Africa106.8
153Lithuania107.8
154=Guyana108.0
154=Nauru108.0
154=Samoa108.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
S. Africa ranks 152nd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. S. Africa does better than average in its score on the Green Future Index39 (the highest in Africa) and in its forested percent change 1990-201540. But that's it. S. Africa has problems. It does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population41, annual meat consumption per person42 (the worst in Africa), how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its environmental performance43. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for energy to GDP efficiency44.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
40
Pos.2015
%40
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
87=Vanuatu00.0
87=Turkmenistan00.0
87=Djibouti00.0
87=S. Africa00.0
87=Kiribati00.0
87=Andorra00.0
87=Malta00.0
87=Saudi Arabia00.0
Africa Avg-08.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
43
Pos.201843
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
139Ivory Coast45.3
140Gabon45.1
141Ethiopia44.8
142S. Africa44.7
143Guinea-Bissau44.7
144Vanuatu44.6
145Uganda44.3
146Comoros44.2
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better44
Pos.201444
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
107Benin04.69
108=Bosnia & Herzegovina04.52
108=Russia04.52
110S. Africa04.48
111Bahrain04.10
112Ukraine03.28
113Togo02.88
114Ethiopia02.81
Africa Avg07.42
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
131Moldova1996 Jan 18
132Guinea-Bissau1996 Jan 25
133Sudan1996 Jan 28
134S. Africa1996 Jan 31
135Nicaragua1996 Feb 18
136Latvia1996 Mar 13
137Singapore1996 Mar 20
138Syria1996 Apr 03
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better41
Pos.2011
%41
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
104Syria26.6%
105Qatar26.5%
106Bahrain26.3%
107S. Africa26.2%
108Lithuania25.6%
109Nigeria25.3%
110Armenia25.3%
111Kazakhstan25.0%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
42
Pos.2021
kg42
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
124Micronesia70.4
125Denmark70.5
126Seychelles70.6
127S. Africa71.6
128Kazakhstan71.8
129Estonia72.1
130Guyana72.4
131Latvia74.0
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.
Green Future Index
Higher is better39
Pos.2023
Score39
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
22Austria5.4
23Bulgaria5.3
24Costa Rica5.3
25S. Africa5.2
26Uruguay5.1
27China5.1
28Japan5.1
29Hungary5.1
Africa Avg4.0
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. South Africa's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
4Kenya79.8
5Seychelles81.3
6Mauritius85.8
7Morocco87.4
8Nigeria94.1
9Uganda95.3
10Ghana96.7
11Libya97.0
12Botswana97.7
13Cameroon101.6
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
47Macau50.8
48Chile51.6
49Malta51.6
50S. Africa52.8
51Belarus53.2
52Cyprus54.0
53Barbados54.2
54Brazil55.1
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2946
2Israel4.1146
3Japan3.5846
...
42Kenya0.7947
43Ukraine0.7648
44=Morocco0.7347
44=S. Africa0.7349
44=Serbia0.7348
44=Hong Kong0.7349
48Tunisia0.6849
49=Egypt0.6848
Africa Avg0.36
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
50
Pos.201850
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
65Belize78.6%
66Malta78.2%
67Fiji76.9%
68S. Africa76.5%
69Spain75.8%
70Samoa74.5%
71Trinidad & Tobago73.4%
72Philippines73.2%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
51
Pos.2021
Years51
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
90Egypt13.8
91Indonesia13.7
92Swaziland13.7
93S. Africa13.6
94Macedonia13.6
95Azerbaijan13.5
96Jamaica13.4
97Sao Tome & Principe13.4
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
22Grenada22
23Poland23
24France24
25S. Africa25
26Singapore26
27Greece27
28Serbia28
29Canada29
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity
Lower is better
52
Pos.2018
%52
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
62=Egypt72
63Algeria73
64=Peru73
65S. Africa75
66=Ecuador76
66=Costa Rica76
68Puerto Rico77
69=Malaysia77
Africa Avg87.0
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better53
Pos.200653
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
105Uganda73
106=Tanzania72
106=Kenya72
106=S. Africa72
109Zambia71
110=Jamaica71
110=Ghana71
112Namibia70
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
54
Pos.201654
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
93Georgia53%
94China52%
95=Vietnam52%
95=S. Africa52%
97Dominican Rep.52%
98Uzbekistan51%
99Armenia50%
100Iran49%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
55
Pos.201255
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
4Australia18
5Hungary19
6=Philippines23
6=Italy23
8UK25
9=S. Africa26
9=Argentina26
11Ukraine27
12=Brazil27
Africa Avg45.0
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security
Lower is better
56
Pos.201356
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
6Israel0.20
7Colombia0.22
8=S. Africa0.22
8=Japan0.22
10Philippines0.24
11Czechia0.24
12Argentina0.27
Africa Avg1.07
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
57
Pos.2017
Ratio57
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
65Seychelles0.2
66Puerto Rico0.2
67Indonesia0.2
68S. Africa0.1
69Jersey0.1
70=Sudan0.1
70=Ukraine0.1
72Lithuania0.1
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
58
Pos.2022
%58
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
86=Panama36.0
86=El Salvador36.0
86=Saudi Arabia36.0
89S. Africa35.0
90=Ivory Coast35.0
90=Congo, (Brazzaville)35.0
90=Namibia35.0
93Togo34.0
Africa Avg38.2
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
59
Pos.2022
Points59
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
70Oman44.0
71=Bahrain44.0
72Senegal43.0
73=S. Africa43.0
73=Bulgaria43.0
73=Benin43.0
73=Ghana43.0
77Timor-Leste (E. Timor)42.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
60
Pos.2018
Score60
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
102Venezuela4.8
103Gabon4.8
104Palestine4.7
105S. Africa4.7
106Iran4.7
107Ivory Coast4.7
108Ghana4.7
109Senegal4.6
Africa Avg4.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
62Ukraine62
63Israel63
64Mexico64
65S. Africa65
66Lebanon66
67USA67
68Guyana68
69Bosnia & Herzegovina69
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
111Malawi111
112Laos112
113China113
114S. Africa114
115Cape Verde115
116Russia116
117Angola117
118Guyana118
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
61
Pos.2023
Score61
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
127Guinea2.36
128Burundi2.39
129Haiti2.40
130S. Africa2.41
131USA2.45
132Brazil2.46
133Eritrea2.51
134Palestine2.54
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
6Uruguay6
7Indonesia7
8Brunei8
9Moldova9
10Morocco10
11Oman11
12Tanzania12
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
22Costa Rica22
23Thailand23
24Poland24
25S. Africa25
26Chile26
27Panama27
28Portugal28
29USA29
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
62
Pos.2019
Score62
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
107Germany4.25
108Lebanon4.40
109China4.47
110S. Africa4.51
111Israel4.53
112Iran4.72
113Chad4.76
114Russia4.90
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better63
Pos.201963
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
125Nepal17.50
126Cambodia18.10
127Guyana19.00
128S. Africa19.20
129Botswana19.40
130Rwanda19.50
131India19.70
132Madagascar21.10
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better64
Pos.2017
%64
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
145Botswana53.3
146=Brazil53.3
147Mozambique54.0
148Lesotho54.2
149Central African Rep.56.2
150Zambia57.1
151Namibia59.1
152S. Africa63.0
Africa Avg42.6
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better65
Pos.2018
Severity65
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
32Colombia.020
33Philippines.024
34Mexico.025
35S. Africa.025
36Indonesia.028
37Syria.029
38Tajikistan.029
39El Salvador.032
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_south_africa #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)52
Pos.Lower is better
%52
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
62=Egypt72
63Algeria73
64=Peru73
65S. Africa75
66=Ecuador76
66=Costa Rica76
68Puerto Rico77
69=Malaysia77
69=Colombia77
71Dominican Rep.78
72=Iran78
72=Tunisia78
74Bangladesh80
75=India80
76Iraq82
77=El Salvador85
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)66
Pos.Higher is better
%66
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
78=Honduras1
78=Brazil1
78=Ecuador1
78=S. Africa1
78=Venezuela1
78=Peru1
78=Guatemala1
78=El Salvador1
78=Panama1
87Somalia0
88=Sri Lanka0
88=Burundi0
88=Burkina Faso0
88=Brunei0
88=Botswana0
88=Syria0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below67:

Christian81.2%
Muslim1.7%
Hindu1.1%
Buddhist0.2%
Folk Religion0.4%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated14.9%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)68.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on South Africa69. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 52%. Some people don't know what to believe (9%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (9%). Also, 3% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 5% believe in reincarnation.

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