American Samoa vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 96 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 1,446 times as many people as American Samoa (65.49 million vs 45,292). South Africa's economy is 399 times the size of American Samoa's ($424.75 billion vs $1.07 billion GDP).
Comparing American Samoa and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against American Samoa (30.08 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against American Samoa (200); American Samoa leads on Major Urban Areas Population (49,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people). Across 96 compared metrics, American Samoa wins on 33 and South Africa wins on 46.
- Communications: 4 metrics compared
- Economy: 39 metrics compared
- Environment: 8 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 5 metrics compared
- Health: 7 metrics compared
- People and Society: 25 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
Communications
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users | percent of population: 40.3% (1990 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Radios | 57,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 14,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
39 metricsEnvironment
8 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -68 % | 87,567.97 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.94 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 389,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 2,993.73 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 16.76 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 16.4 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 1 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 15.78 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 150.79★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 30.08 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 200 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 116 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
5 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 84.92 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 districts and 2 islands* are considered second-order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western | 9 | |
| Independence | none (territory of the US) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 365 per 100,000 | 288 per 100,000★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
7 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 90.54 %★ | 68.01 % | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 72.99 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 72.99 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 74.6 % | 31.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
25 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 43.78 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.21 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 29.53 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | -662.3 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 225.93 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 45,292 persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 15.3 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | NA | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 14.99 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 6.4 %★ | 6.56 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | NA | 6.6 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 10,520.5 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.7 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17,850★ | 25.16 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 49,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 176.05★ | 166.68 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 11.64 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 75.15 % | 79.63 %★ | |
| Physician Density | NA | 0.79 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | -1.33 % | 1.06 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 350.8 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total fertility rate | 2.23 per woman★ | 2.17 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -963.9 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 10.07 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | -2.12 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
2 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.93★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 3 | 573★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About American Samoa vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, American Samoa or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 1,446 times as many people as American Samoa (65.49 million vs 45,292). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, American Samoa or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 399 times the size of American Samoa's ($424.75 billion vs $1.07 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, American Samoa or South Africa?▾
American Samoa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $23,532 in American Samoa vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).