South Africa vs United Arab Emirates
South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Learning-adjusted schooling
Learning-adjusted schooling in 2020: 5.6 years in South Africa and 9.6 years in United Arab Emirates, by World Bank estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in United Arab Emirates, by 4 years, or 1.72 times that in South Africa.
years · World Bank
What the numbers say
- United Arab Emirates has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2010.
- In 2020, South Africa ranked 138 and United Arab Emirates ranked 46 of 174 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
years · World Bank
| Year | South Africa | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.6 | 9.6 |
| 2018 | 5.6 | 9.7 |
| 2017 | 5.1 | 9.5 |
| 2010 | 6.2 | 8.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The years of school a child can expect by 18, cut to what students actually learn: the World Bank’s learning-adjusted years of school.
- Source: World Bank Human Capital Index, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 174 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
South Africa vs United Arab Emirates
Health
- Life expectancySouth Africa: 66.1 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024United Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017United Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017United Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023United Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025United Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Africa: $5,713 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024
- GDP growthSouth Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024United Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025United Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025United Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020United Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022United Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020United Arab Emirates: 1.02% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personSouth Africa: 6.88 tonnes in 2024United Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersSouth Africa: 78.4% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Access to electricitySouth Africa: 90.2% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaSouth Africa: 18.8% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024