Argentina vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 177 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 42% more people than Argentina (65.49 million vs 46.01 million). Argentina's economy is 94% larger than South Africa's ($826.08 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Argentina and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Argentina (140,000); South Africa leads on Inflation Rate (4.36 %) against Argentina (219.88 %); Argentina leads on HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate (0.40 %) against South Africa (18.30 %). Across 177 compared metrics, Argentina wins on 97 and South Africa wins on 69.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 26.1 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 89.67 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 89.23 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 26.1 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 56.14 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 24.3★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 7.95★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 10,950 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -7.35M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -179,517.97 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 15.39 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 198.14★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 656.94 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | one third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 8.91 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 8.8 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 128 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 876.24★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 39 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.46 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 185.74★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 1.22M sq. km★ | 963,410 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 2.74M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,989 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 2,844.98 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 13,910 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 36.1 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 23★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 37 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 37 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 9 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 7.76 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 233 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 37★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 72,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.56 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 103,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.41★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 764★ | 573 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 56 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 148★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 5.39B USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 29 %★ | 7 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Argentina vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Argentina or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 42% more people than Argentina (65.49 million vs 46.01 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Argentina or South Africa?▾
Argentina. Argentina's economy is 94% larger than South Africa's ($826.08 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Argentina or South Africa?▾
Argentina is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $17,956 in Argentina vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).