Australia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 111 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
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 111 compared metrics, Australia wins on 68 and South Africa wins on 35.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.15 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 25.5★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 10.15★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 8,368 | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.42M★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 394.65★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| 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 | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 72 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 492★ | 51.35 |
Geography
6 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 | |
| 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
4 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 90.34 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 9★ | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 14.39★ | 102.05 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.4★ | 7.2 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 10.5 % of GDP★ | 8.3 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.1 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 3.8 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 2 %★ | 118 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 30.5★ | 22.5 | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 29 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 30,000 | 7.8★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 60,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
30 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 |