South Africa (Republic of South Africa)

South Africa Republic of South Africa
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	86th best
Capital	Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial)
Land Area	1 213 090km21
Location	Africa
Population	57.8m2
Life Expectancy	62.34yrs (2017)3
GNI	$12 948 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	ZA, ZAF, 7105
Internet Domain	.za6
Currency	Rand (ZAR)7
Telephone	+278

1. Overview
2. South Africa National and Social Development
3. South Africa's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. South Africa's Health
6. South Africa's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. South Africa's Modernity and Learning
8. South Africa's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

---

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

“An 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
106=	Palestine	0.715
106=	St Lucia	0.715
108	Guyana	0.714
109	S. Africa	0.713
110	Jamaica	0.709
111	Samoa	0.707
112=	Gabon	0.706
112=	Lebanon	0.706
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
90	Armenia	$13 158
91	Turkmenistan	$13 021
92	Iran	$13 001
93	S. Africa	$12 948
94	Suriname	$12 672
95	Sri Lanka	$12 578
96	Paraguay	$12 349
97	Barbados	$12 306
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
83	St Vincent & Grenadines	85.5
84	Dominican Rep.	85.9
85	Nepal	86.2
86	S. Africa	86.2
87	Maldives	86.7
88	Cape Verde	86.8
89	Antigua & Barbuda	87.3
90	Mongolia	87.4
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

South Africa's population is predicted to fall to 54 711 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.34. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
21	UK	67.1m
22	France	65.0m
23	Italy	60.6m
24	S. Africa	57.8m
25	Tanzania	56.3m
26	Myanmar (Burma)	53.7m
27	Kenya	51.4m
28	S. Korea	51.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
161	Haiti	63.2
162	Malawi	62.9
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
55	Turks & Caicos Islands	1.66
56	Guatemala	2.35
57	Barbados	1.63
58	Guyana	2.37
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
71	Cambodia	10.4
72=	Egypt	10.5
72=	Libya	10.5
72=	S. Africa	10.5
75	Bangladesh	10.6
76=	Nepal	10.8
76=	Bhutan	10.8
76=	Micronesia	10.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
69	Congo, (Brazzaville)	7.6%
70	Botswana	7.3%
71	St Lucia	7.2%
72	S. Africa	7.1%
73	S. Sudan	6.7%
74	Grenada	6.6%
75	Armenia	6.5%
76	Bhutan	6.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
155	Australia	2.1%
156	Serbia	2.0%
157	Venezuela	1.8%
158	S. Africa	1.7%
159	Iran	1.7%
160	Libya	1.7%
161	Gabon	1.7%
162	Vanuatu	1.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
52	Serbia	63.7
53	Mauritius	63.7
54	Jamaica	64.1
55	S. Africa	64.3
56	Panama	64.4
57	Montenegro	65.3
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	86.55
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 in terms of LGBT equality₁₉ (amongst the highest in Africa) and in freethought₂₀ (amongst the lowest in Africa). It does better than average in terms of supporting press freedom₂₁ (the best in Africa), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₂, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃, its average Freedom in the World rating, eliminating modern slavery₂₄ and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅. But, things still need to improve in S. Africa. S. Africa does worse than average for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₆ (still low for Africa), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₇ and in opposing gender inequality₂₈ (still low for Africa). Violence against women is far too prevalent and frequently goes unreported, and the government has yet to introduce a strategy to combat it₂₉. Progress is always going to be difficult in a country where the richest 10% hold 51% of the country's entire income₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in South Africa

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 (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Mauritius	71.9
2	Tunisia	75.6
3	Morocco	88.2
	...
12	Sao Tome & Principe	121.3
13	Lesotho	121.4
14=	Ghana	121.8
14=	S. Africa	121.8
16	Burundi	122.8
17	Gambia	124.0
18	Madagascar	126.0
19	Ethiopia	126.3
20=	Egypt	126.8
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
155	Lesotho	121.4
156	Palau	121.6
157=	Ghana	121.8
157=	S. Africa	121.8
159	Burundi	122.8
160	Belize	122.8
161	Gambia	124.0
162	Tonga	124.3
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₃₂.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₃₂.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

South Africa has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. S. Africa comes in the best 20 for its suicide rate₃₃ (amongst the lowest in Africa). It does better than average when it comes to its fertility rate₁₄, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄ (the lowest in Africa), its smoking rate₃₅ (but high for Africa) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₆ (but bad for Africa). But, things could still be better. S. Africa does worse than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate₃₇ (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₈ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for its immunizations take-up₃₉. The prevalence 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. South Africa's peak fertility rate was 6.16 in 1960.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
161	Haiti	63.2
162	Malawi	62.9
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better38
Pos.		2016 Per Capita38
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
137	Sweden	9.2
138=	Chile	9.3
138=	Grenada	9.3
138=	S. Africa	9.3
141	St Kitts & Nevis	9.4
142=	Tanzania	9.4
143	Uganda	9.5
144	Barbados	9.6
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
55	Turks & Caicos Islands	1.66
56	Guatemala	2.35
57	Barbados	1.63
58	Guyana	2.37
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better35
Pos.		201435
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
84	Pakistan	511
85	Cape Verde	515
86	Tajikistan	533
87	S. Africa	537
88	Iceland	551
89	Norway	556
90	Gabon	559
91	Venezuela	565
	Africa Avg	340
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Suicide Rate33
Pos.		2013 Per 100k33
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
4	Jordan	0.2
5	Maldives	0.7
6	Azerbaijan	1.3
7	S. Africa	1.8
8	Bahamas	2.5
9	Peru	2.9
10	Kuwait	3.6
11	Armenia	3.9
12	Dominican Rep.	4.6
	Africa Avg	6.13
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
53	Bulgaria	53
54	Panama	54
55	Ukraine	55
56	S. Africa	56
57	Slovenia	57
58	Morocco	58
59	Cyprus	59
60	Guinea	60
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better36
Pos.		1976 %36
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
90=	Jamaica	28.0
90=	Dominica	28.0
92	Bolivia	28.1
93=	S. Africa	28.2
93=	Guatemala	28.2
93=	Brazil	28.2
96	Costa Rica	28.6
97=	Mongolia	29.0
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 %40
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
131	Ukraine	29.2%
132	Latvia	29.8%
133	El Salvador	29.9%
134	S. Africa	30.0%
135	Oman	30.2%
136	Seychelles	30.3%
137	Slovakia	30.3%
138	Grenada	30.5%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better37
Pos.		2022 Per 100037
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
136	Colombia	57.6
137	Solomon Islands	59.4
138	Gambia	60.7
139	S. Africa	60.9
140	Iraq	61.2
141	Ecuador	62.1
142	Kenya	62.6
143	Bolivia	63.1
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better39
Pos.		2015 Avg %39
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
172	Ethiopia	73.9
173	Pakistan	73.0
174	Liberia	72.6
175	S. Africa	72.5
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
179	Afghanistan	70.6
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. South Africa's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Africa (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
38	Zambia	85.4
39	Gabon	87.9
40	Equatorial Guinea	91.2
41	S. Africa	92.2
42	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
43	Mozambique	93.9
44	Liberia	94.2
45	Sudan	97.8
46	Comoros	99.1
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)41
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank41
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
126	St Vincent & Grenadines	92.0
127=	Monaco	92.1
127=	Moldova	92.1
129	S. Africa	92.2
130	Malta	92.2
131	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
132	Palestine	92.7
133	Vanuatu	93.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₂. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, S. Africa ranks 129th in the world. This rank is derived from 21 data sets. S. Africa does better than average in its score on the Green Future Index₄₃ (the highest in Africa) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But that's it. S. Africa has problems. It does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₄, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅ (the highest in Africa), its environmental performance₄₆, energy to GDP efficiency₄₇ (one of the highest in Africa) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₈.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better48
Pos.		Total48
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
165	Trinidad & Tobago	-3.6%
166	Mexico	-4.0%
167	Peru	-4.0%
168	S. Africa	-4.1%
169	Brunei	-4.3%
170	Madagascar	-4.6%
171	Togo	-4.7%
172	Zambia	-4.8%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better46
Pos.		201846
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
139	Ivory Coast	45.3
140	Gabon	45.1
141	Ethiopia	44.8
142	S. Africa	44.7
143	Guinea-Bissau	44.7
144	Vanuatu	44.6
145	Uganda	44.3
146	Comoros	44.2
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better47
Pos.		2022 Avg47
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
141	Paraguay	1.79
142	Jamaica	1.83
143	Moldova	1.88
144	S. Africa	1.97
145	Kuwait	2.02
146	Barbados	2.04
147	Libya	2.05
148	Singapore	2.06
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
23	Mauritius	72%
24	Brazil	71%
25	Chile	71%
26	S. Africa	71%
27	Cyprus	71%
28	Japan	70%
29	UK	70%
30	Tunisia	70%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

One of 18 countries who enacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in its first year (1975).

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better44
Pos.		2011 %44
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
104	Syria	26.6%
105	Qatar	26.5%
106	Bahrain	26.3%
107	S. Africa	26.2%
108	Lithuania	25.6%
109	Nigeria	25.3%
110	Armenia	25.3%
111	Kazakhstan	25.0%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better45
Pos.		2021 kg45
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
124	Micronesia	70.4
125	Denmark	70.5
126	Seychelles	70.6
127	S. Africa	71.6
128	Kazakhstan	71.8
129	Estonia	72.1
130	Guyana	72.4
131	Latvia	74.0
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Green Future Index Higher is better43
Pos.		2023 Score43
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
22	Austria	5.4
23	Bulgaria	5.3
24	Costa Rica	5.3
25	S. Africa	5.2
26	Uruguay	5.1
27	China	5.1
28	Japan	5.1
29	Hungary	5.1
	Africa Avg	4.0
	World Avg	4.8
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)49
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank49
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
4	Seychelles	80.1
5	Egypt	80.5
6	Libya	82.0
7	Kenya	96.4
8	Botswana	96.5
9	Morocco	97.9
10	Algeria	100.2
11	Gabon	108.2
12	Uganda	109.8
13	Ghana	110.3
	Africa Avg	120.19
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)49
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank49
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
50	Brazil	52.8
51	Cyprus	55.6
52	Turkey	55.9
53	S. Africa	56.9
54	Serbia	57.1
55	Uruguay	57.6
56	Malaysia	59.4
57	Kazakhstan	59.8
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₅₀. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₅₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₁.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₂

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₀.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2953
2	Israel	4.1153
3	Japan	3.5853
	...
42	Kenya	0.7954
43	Ukraine	0.7655
44=	Morocco	0.7354
44=	S. Africa	0.7356
44=	Serbia	0.7355
44=	Hong Kong	0.7356
48	Tunisia	0.6856
49=	Egypt	0.6855
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better57
Pos.		201857
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
65	Belize	78.6%
66	Malta	78.2%
67	Fiji	76.9%
68	S. Africa	76.5%
69	Spain	75.8%
70	Samoa	74.5%
71	Trinidad & Tobago	73.4%
72	Philippines	73.2%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better58
Pos.		2021 Years58
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
90	Egypt	13.8
91	Indonesia	13.7
92	Swaziland	13.7
93	S. Africa	13.6
94	Macedonia	13.6
95	Azerbaijan	13.5
96	Jamaica	13.4
97	Sao Tome & Principe	13.4
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
22	Grenada	22
23	Poland	23
24	France	24
25	S. Africa	25
26	Singapore	26
27	Greece	27
28	Serbia	28
29	Canada	29
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better59
Pos.		2018 %59
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
62=	Egypt	72
63	Algeria	73
64=	Peru	73
65	S. Africa	75
66=	Ecuador	76
66=	Costa Rica	76
68	Puerto Rico	77
69=	Malaysia	77
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better60
Pos.		200660
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
105	Uganda	73
106=	Tanzania	72
106=	Kenya	72
106=	S. Africa	72
109	Zambia	71
110=	Jamaica	71
110=	Ghana	71
112	Namibia	70
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better61
Pos.		201661
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
93	Georgia	53%
94	China	52%
95=	Vietnam	52%
95=	S. Africa	52%
97	Dominican Rep.	52%
98	Uzbekistan	51%
99	Armenia	50%
100	Iran	49%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better62
Pos.		201262
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
4	Australia	18
5	Hungary	19
6=	Philippines	23
6=	Italy	23
8	UK	25
9=	S. Africa	26
9=	Argentina	26
11	Ukraine	27
12=	Brazil	27
	Africa Avg	45.0
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better63
Pos.		201363
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
4	Hong Kong	0.12
5	Mexico	0.16
6	Israel	0.20
7	Colombia	0.22
8=	S. Africa	0.22
8=	Japan	0.22
10	Philippines	0.24
11	Czechia	0.24
12	Argentina	0.27
	Africa Avg	1.07
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better64
Pos.		2017 Ratio64
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
65	Seychelles	0.2
66	Puerto Rico	0.2
67	Indonesia	0.2
68	S. Africa	0.1
69	Jersey	0.1
70=	Sudan	0.1
70=	Ukraine	0.1
72	Lithuania	0.1
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better65
Pos.		202465
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
63	Azerbaijan	46.0%
64	Macedonia	45.7%
65	Moldova	45.5%
66	S. Africa	45.4%
67	Kuwait	44.9%
68	Montenegro	44.9%
69	Morocco	44.8%
70	Mexico	44.6%
	Africa Avg	32.3%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. South Africa's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#botswana #capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #namibia #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #south_africa #terrorism

Compared to Africa (2020)66
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank66
1	Mauritius	48.3
2	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
3	Tunisia	74.9
4	Ghana	75.4
5	Seychelles	76.7
6	Morocco	77.0
7	Senegal	79.9
8	Botswana	83.3
9	S. Africa	84.8
10	Algeria	86.2
11	Namibia	87.3
12	Zambia	88.5
13	Cape Verde	90.8
	Africa Avg	101.84
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)66
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank66
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
95	Guatemala	84.2
96	St Lucia	84.2
97	Ukraine	84.4
98	S. Africa	84.8
99	Dominican Rep.	84.9
100	Guyana	84.9
101	Suriname	85.4
102	El Salvador	85.5
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

World Giving Index Higher is better67
Pos.		2022 %67
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
86=	Panama	36.0
86=	El Salvador	36.0
86=	Saudi Arabia	36.0
89	S. Africa	35.0
90=	Ivory Coast	35.0
90=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	35.0
90=	Namibia	35.0
93	Togo	34.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better68
Pos.		2022 Points68
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
70	Oman	44.0
71=	Bahrain	44.0
72	Senegal	43.0
73=	S. Africa	43.0
73=	Bulgaria	43.0
73=	Benin	43.0
73=	Ghana	43.0
77	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	42.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better69
Pos.		2024 Score69
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
92	Nepal	5.3
93	Laos	5.3
94	Turkey	5.3
95	S. Africa	5.2
96	Mozambique	5.2
97	Gabon	5.1
98	Ivory Coast	5.1
99	Iran	5.1
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
62	Ukraine	62
63	Israel	63
64	Mexico	64
65	S. Africa	65
66	Lebanon	66
67	USA	67
68	Guyana	68
69	Bosnia & Herzegovina	69
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
111	Malawi	111
112	Laos	112
113	China	113
114	S. Africa	114
115	Cape Verde	115
116	Russia	116
117	Angola	117
118	Guyana	118
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better70
Pos.		2023 Score70
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
127	Guinea	2.36
128	Burundi	2.39
129	Haiti	2.40
130	S. Africa	2.41
131	USA	2.45
132	Brazil	2.46
133	Eritrea	2.51
134	Palestine	2.54
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Nigeria	5
6	Uruguay	6
7	Indonesia	7
8	Brunei	8
9	Moldova	9
10	Morocco	10
11	Oman	11
12	Tanzania	12
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
22	Costa Rica	22
23	Thailand	23
24	Poland	24
25	S. Africa	25
26	Chile	26
27	Panama	27
28	Portugal	28
29	USA	29
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better71
Pos.		2019 Score71
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
107	Germany	4.25
108	Lebanon	4.40
109	China	4.47
110	S. Africa	4.51
111	Israel	4.53
112	Iran	4.72
113	Chad	4.76
114	Russia	4.90
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better72
Pos.		201972
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
125	Nepal	17.50
126	Cambodia	18.10
127	Guyana	19.00
128	S. Africa	19.20
129	Botswana	19.40
130	Rwanda	19.50
131	India	19.70
132	Madagascar	21.10
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better73
Pos.		2023 %73
1	Slovakia	24.1%74
2	Slovenia	24.3%74
3	Belarus	24.4%75
	...
160	Zambia	51.5%76
161	Brazil	52.0%76
162	Botswana	53.3%77
163	Swaziland	54.6%78
164	Colombia	54.8%76
165	Belize	57.7%79
166	Namibia	59.1%77
167	S. Africa	63.0%80
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for South Africa - only for 6 years between 1980 and 2019, but it always scores poorly. In the 2000s, it was the 3rd most unequal country in the world, after Namibia and Botswana, and although only two data points were availble for South Africa in the 2010s, on average these placed it as the most economically unequal country in the world, in that decade.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better81
Pos.		2018 Severity81
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
32	Colombia	.020
33	Philippines	.024
34	Mexico	.025
35	S. Africa	.025
36	Indonesia	.028
37	Syria	.029
38	Tajikistan	.029
39	El Salvador	.032
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)59
Pos.		Lower is better %59
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
62=	Egypt	72
63	Algeria	73
64=	Peru	73
65	S. Africa	75
66=	Ecuador	76
66=	Costa Rica	76
68	Puerto Rico	77
69=	Malaysia	77
69=	Colombia	77
71	Dominican Rep.	78
72=	Iran	78
72=	Tunisia	78
74	Bangladesh	80
75=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)82
Pos.		Higher is better %82
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
78=	Honduras	1
78=	Brazil	1
78=	Ecuador	1
78=	S. Africa	1
78=	Venezuela	1
78=	Peru	1
78=	Guatemala	1
78=	El Salvador	1
78=	Panama	1
87	Somalia	0
88=	Sri Lanka	0
88=	Burundi	0
88=	Burkina Faso	0
88=	Brunei	0
88=	Botswana	0
88=	Syria	0
	World Avg	9.9
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 below₈₃:

Christian	81.2%
Muslim	1.7%
Hindu	1.1%
Buddhist	0.2%
Folk Religion	0.4%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	14.9%

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)₈₄.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on South Africa₈₅. 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.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?