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. National Culture
9. Peace Versus Instability
10. Economic Inequality and Poverty
11. Religion and Beliefs
12. Links

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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=	St Lucia	0.715
106=	Palestine	0.715
108	Guyana	0.714
109	S. Africa	0.713
110	Jamaica	0.709
111	Samoa	0.707
112=	Lebanon	0.706
112=	Gabon	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	27.4
2	Norway	27.6
3	Sweden	30.4
	...
83	China	84.6
84	India	84.6
85	Palau	84.7
86	S. Africa	84.8
87	Cuba	85.3
88	UAE	85.3
89	Qatar	85.4
90	Fiji	85.9
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.7
q=198.

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	8.5
2	Denmark	13.5
3	Norway	13.5
	...
40	Lithuania	52.2
41	Brazil	54.0
42	Hungary	55.1
43	S. Africa	55.8
44	Bolivia	56.2
45	Peru	56.4
	Africa Avg	110.0
	World Avg	87.8
q=200.

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 equality₁₉ (one of the best in Africa) and in freethought₂₀ (one of the best in Africa). It does better than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₁, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, its average Freedom in the World rating, supporting press freedom₂₃, eliminating modern slavery₂₄ and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅. S. Africa does not succeed in everything, however. S. Africa does worse than average when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₆ (still good for Africa), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₇ and in opposing gender inequality₂₈ (still good 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 (2020)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Morocco	67.9
2	Tunisia	74.4
3	Mauritius	74.6
	...
18	Sudan	105.6
19	Gambia	107.0
20	Guinea	107.4
21	S. Africa	108.3
22	Kenya	108.5
23	Botswana	108.9
24	Lesotho	109.3
25	Zambia	110.8
26	Tanzania	111.0
	Africa Avg	111.1
q=54.

Health (2020)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Maldives	41.7
3	Sri Lanka	43.1
	...
145	Gambia	107.0
146	Argentina	107.3
147	Guinea	107.4
148	S. Africa	108.3
149	Kenya	108.5
150	Botswana	108.9
151	Lesotho	109.3
152	Venezuela	109.5
	World Avg	95.1
q=198.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, The Maldives and Sri Lanka₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, The Marshall Islands and Nigeria₃₂.

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 Mediterranean₃₂, 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 in its suicide rate₃₃ (amongst the lowest in Africa). It does better than average for its fertility rate₁₄, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄ (the best in Africa) and in its smoking rate₃₅ (but bad for Africa). S. Africa still has work to do. S. Africa does worse than average in its adolescent birth rate₂₈ (still good for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₆ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its immunizations take-up₃₇. 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. 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 better36
Pos.		2016 Per Capita36
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 better38
Pos.		2016 %38
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
86	Paraguay	53.5
87=	Kazakhstan	53.6
87=	Azerbaijan	53.6
89	S. Africa	53.8
90	Georgia	54.2
91=	Switzerland	54.3
91=	Austria	54.3
93	Armenia	54.4
	Africa Avg	33.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better28
Pos.		2015 Per 100028
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
99	Thailand	44.6
100	Antigua & Barbuda	44.8
101	Fiji	44.8
102	S. Africa	45.5
103	Cuba	45.6
104	Suriname	46.1
105	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	46.6
106	Chile	47.8
	Africa Avg	87.5
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better37
Pos.		2015 Avg %37
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 #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Seychelles	55.3
2	Kenya	57.4
3=	Zambia	57.6
	...
40	Burundi	102.0
41	Swaziland	102.3
42	Botswana	106.8
43	S. Africa	106.8
44	Lesotho	109.7
45	Sao Tome & Principe	110.3
46	Congo, (Brazzaville)	111.8
47	Mauritania	114.5
48=	S. Sudan	118.0
	Africa Avg	90.1
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
149	Oman	104.7
150	Moldova	104.8
151	Botswana	106.8
152	S. Africa	106.8
153	Lithuania	107.8
154=	Guyana	108.0
154=	Nauru	108.0
154=	Samoa	108.0
	World Avg	85.7
q=188.

In terms of its responsibility towards the environment, S. Africa is 152nd in the world. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. S. Africa does better than average in its score on the Green Future Index₄₀ (the highest in Africa). But unfortunately S. Africa gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₁, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂ (the worst in Africa), how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity, its environmental performance₄₃ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₄₅.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better44
Pos.		Total44
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 better43
Pos.		201843
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 Higher is better45
Pos.		201445
1	Hong Kong	26.32
2	Sri Lanka	20.00
3	Panama	17.86
	...
107	Benin	04.69
108=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	04.52
108=	Russia	04.52
110	S. Africa	04.48
111	Bahrain	04.10
112	Ukraine	03.28
113	Togo	02.88
114	Ethiopia	02.81
	Africa Avg	07.42
	World Avg	09.29
q=119.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		Total Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
131	Moldova	1996 Jan 18
132	Guinea-Bissau	1996 Jan 25
133	Sudan	1996 Jan 28
134	S. Africa	1996 Jan 31
135	Nicaragua	1996 Feb 18
136	Latvia	1996 Mar 13
137	Singapore	1996 Mar 20
138	Syria	1996 Apr 03
	Africa Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better41
Pos.		2011 %41
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 better42
Pos.		2021 kg42
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 better40
Pos.		2023 Score40
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)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	S. Africa	54.1
2	Egypt	71.3
3	Tunisia	74.3
4	Kenya	80.7
5	Seychelles	81.3
6	Mauritius	84.6
7	Morocco	85.1
8	Nigeria	94.8
9	Ghana	95.6
10	Libya	97.0
11	Uganda	97.2
12	Botswana	97.8
13	Algeria	102.6
	Africa Avg	120.2
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.7
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	14.7
	...
48	Macau	50.8
49	Chile	50.8
50	Cyprus	51.1
51	S. Africa	54.1
52	Barbados	54.2
53	UAE	54.4
54	Brazil	54.9
55	Belarus	55.2
	World Avg	82.7
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2947
2	Israel	4.1147
3	Japan	3.5847
	...
42	Kenya	0.7948
43	Ukraine	0.7649
44=	Morocco	0.7348
44=	S. Africa	0.7350
44=	Serbia	0.7349
44=	Hong Kong	0.7350
48	Tunisia	0.6850
49=	Egypt	0.6849
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better51
Pos.		201851
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 better52
Pos.		2021 Years52
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 better53
Pos.		2018 %53
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 better54
Pos.		200654
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 better55
Pos.		201655
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 better56
Pos.		201256
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 better57
Pos.		201357
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 better58
Pos.		2017 Ratio58
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 better59
Pos.		202459
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. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better60
Pos.		2022 %60
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 better61
Pos.		2022 Points61
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 better62
Pos.		2018 Score62
1	Finland	7.6
2	Norway	7.6
3	Denmark	7.6
	...
102	Venezuela	4.8
103	Gabon	4.8
104	Palestine	4.7
105	S. Africa	4.7
106	Iran	4.7
107	Ivory Coast	4.7
108	Ghana	4.7
109	Senegal	4.6
	Africa Avg	4.29
	World Avg	5.38
q=156.

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.

9. Peace Versus Instability

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

Global Peace Index Lower is better63
Pos.		2023 Score63
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 better64
Pos.		2019 Score64
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.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#botswana #capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #namibia #poverty #social_development #south_africa

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better65
Pos.		201965
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 better66
Pos.		2023 %66
1	Slovakia	24.1%67
2	Slovenia	24.3%67
3	Belarus	24.4%68
	...
160	Zambia	51.5%69
161	Brazil	52.0%69
162	Botswana	53.3%70
163	Swaziland	54.6%71
164	Colombia	54.8%69
165	Belize	57.7%72
166	Namibia	59.1%70
167	S. Africa	63.0%73
	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 better74
Pos.		2018 Severity74
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.

11. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)53
Pos.		Lower is better %53
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)75
Pos.		Higher is better %75
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 below₇₆:

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)₇₇.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on South Africa₇₈. 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?