Ecuador or South Africa: which is better?
Country: head-to-head comparison
Ecuador wins on more indicators: 8 of 13 against 5.
- Safety and trust: South Africa 0:3
- Costs and work: Ecuador 1:0
- Climate and health: Ecuador 7:0
- Law and institutions: South Africa 0:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Ecuador
Indicator
South Africa
Safety and trust
Better: South Africa (0 : 3)Organized violence
lower is better
✗5.39 deaths per 100,000 residents, 2022–2024
2022–202426850% higher
✓0.02 deaths per 100,000 residents, 2022–2024
2022–2024100% lower
Homicides
lower is better
periods differ
✗45.7 per 100,000 residents
20235% higher
✓43.7 per 100,000 residents
20224% lower
Trust between people
higher is better
periods differ
✗6%
202275% lower
✓23%
2014302% higher
Costs and work
Better: Ecuador (1 : 0)GDP per capita
higher is better
✓$16,757
20255% higher
✗$15,906
20255% lower
Climate and health
Better: Ecuador (7 : 0)Life expectancy
higher is better
✓77.6 years
202417% higher
✗66.3 years
202415% lower
Life expectancy: men
higher is better
✓74.9 years
202419% higher
✗62.8 years
202416% lower
Life expectancy: women
higher is better
✓80.3 years
202415% higher
✗69.8 years
202413% lower
Median age at death
higher is better
✓81.9 years
202315% higher
✗71.1 years
202313% lower
Infant survival
higher is better
✓98.91%
20241% higher
✗97.58%
20241% lower
Survival of children under 5
higher is better
✓98.71%
20242% higher
✗96.49%
20242% lower
Air (PM2.5)
lower is better
✓18.6 µg/m³ per year
202333% lower
✗27.7 µg/m³ per year
202349% higher
Law and institutions
Better: South Africa (0 : 2)Rule of law
higher is better
✗-1.03 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025
✓0.04 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025
Control of corruption
higher is better
✗-0.74 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025
✓-0.13 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Ecuador, South Africa.