Australia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 2.4 times as many people as Australia (65.49 million vs 27.23 million). Australia's economy is 4.8 times the size of South Africa's ($2.02 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Australia and South Africa: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Australia (1.18); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Australia (30,000); South Africa leads on Population living in slums (23.64 %) against Australia (0.03 %). Across 169 compared metrics, Australia wins on 110 and South Africa wins on 51.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 96.13 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.06 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 36.48 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.15 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 25.5★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 10.15★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 8,368 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.42M★ | 3.23M | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 22.64 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 394.65★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 454.91 mm | 652.17 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by | 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 | 22.48 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 72 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 492★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 69 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.18 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 83.98 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 3.67M sq. km★ | 963,410 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 7.69M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 25,760 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 2,840.49 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 19,450★ | 16,700 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 90.34 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 77 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 77 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 9.57 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 170 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 77 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.92 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 60,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 3.09★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 2,257★ | 573 | |
| Civil Air Travel | about 150 major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 392★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 53.82B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 4.35 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Australia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Australia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 2.4 times as many people as Australia (65.49 million vs 27.23 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Australia or South Africa?▾
Australia. Australia's economy is 4.8 times the size of South Africa's ($2.02 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Australia or South Africa?▾
Australia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $74,342 in Australia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).