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Bangladesh vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Bangladesh
bgd
Leads on 66 of 171 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 97 of 171 metrics

Summary

Bangladesh has 2.7 times as many people as South Africa (177.81 million vs 65.49 million). Bangladesh's economy is 17% larger than South Africa's ($496.95 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing Bangladesh and South Africa: Bangladesh leads on Televisions (770,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Beer Consumption per Capita (3.65 liters) against Bangladesh (0.00 liters); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Bangladesh (14,000). Across 171 compared metrics, Bangladesh wins on 66 and South Africa wins on 97.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 62 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration8.09 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)53.42 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)44.5 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 45% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed8.09 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score33.71 points75.71 points★
Radios6.1517★
Televisions770,000★6
Waterwaysup to 8,046 km depending on season note: includes 3,058 km main cargo routesNA

Economy

62 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country59.36B $★14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars496.95B $★424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)30.7 %★14.07 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate43.28 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5 %5.75 %★
Coal Revenue0.022.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)9.54 %10.38 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2.3 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index4559.6★
Electricity Consumption53.65207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels97★85
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants2★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables210★
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity11.950.02★
Electricity Production60.51234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)11.47 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate41.48 %55.4 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage0.19 %11.04 %★
Gender Wage Gap0.19 %★11.04 %
Gini Index Coefficient33.463★
Gross Fixed Investment25.1★19.5
Gross National Saving30.2★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage1.87 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries8,676.76 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)3.5 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate8.77 %3.21 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)10.5 %4.4 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.9 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption29.53★5.07
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production29.53906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves185.8★0
Oil Consumption98,000553,000★
Oil Exports2,77054,930★
Oil Imports77,340521,400★
Oil Production5,724192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves28★15
Population Below Poverty Line18.7 people★55.5 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)22.03 % of GDP★11.46 % of GDP
Public Debt33.3★76.2
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)4.2 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends1.97 %7.68 %★
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption106,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports901105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports81,570195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production26,280487,100★
Remittances6★0.2
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)25.12★29.54
Tax Burden (% of GDP)7.64 %★25.95 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)7.64 % of GDP25.95 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues7.626★
Top Exporting Countries47.09B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.4 %★-0.51 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP3.02 %3.7 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)3.02 %3.7 %★
Unemployment Rate4.7 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate58.8 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate9.39 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.79M3.23M★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-987.99 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature25.87 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions125.96★446.7
Continental Shelfup to outer limits of continental margin;200
Global Precipitation Distribution2,080.89 mm★652.17 mm
Protected Land Area for Adaptation4.08 sq km9.88 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage4.2 %9.6 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country21.12 Cubic meters per year★4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources1.2351.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species39 species33 species★

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization67.52 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)62.8285.66★
Agricultural land96,571 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km129,9801.21M★
Coastline Length (km)580 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita36.91 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land83,690★16,700

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country35.23 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions89★
Corruption Perception Index23 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score23 index41 index★
Independence1631★
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.5410.94★
Prison Population Rate46 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception23★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water59.13 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults21.3 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)13.2★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders74.93 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends2.04 per 1,000 births1.87 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita256.63 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score54 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2.4 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy74.93 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) <0.1%18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density0.8 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita0.54 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence23.05 %16.64 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate0.86 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)115 %★118 %
Mean Age at First Birth18.122.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density0.62 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)3.6 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending79.31 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS14,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors0.720.79★
Underweight Children Under 521.74.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel163,000 personnel★74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.81 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)227,000★89,000

People and Society

40 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)81.95 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.48★0.42
Life expectancy at birth78.42 years★71.98 years
Median age of population26.28 years29 years★
Population Change2.43M persons★673,269.7 persons
Population density1,364.54 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population177.81M persons★65.49M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.520.83★
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA★A
Beer Consumption per Capita0 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)19.45 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate62.7 %★54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate19.99 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.05 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age50.58M persons★18.20M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)20.81 %29.84 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate8.09 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.56 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.270.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate77.36★27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school5.04 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population23.21 people★10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)163.81166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling7.23 years10.47 years★
Military Service Age and Obligationvaries by service, but generally 17-23 for voluntary military service; length of service also varies (2025)18
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.68 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization98.02 %★79.63 %
Physician Density0.72 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate0.91 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums50.21 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio42.9729.51★
Total deaths825,758.1 persons540,582.7 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.05 %★62.02 %
Total fertility rate2.11 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-215,456.8 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate17.1 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.92 %★1.34 %
Voting Age Population42.42 millions★39.64 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.050.37★
Airports17573★
Civil Air Travel1590★
Heliports3649★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita442.04M USD6.72B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate10 %★7 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Bangladesh vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Bangladesh or South Africa?▾

Bangladesh. Bangladesh has 2.7 times as many people as South Africa (177.81 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Bangladesh or South Africa?▾

Bangladesh. Bangladesh's economy is 17% larger than South Africa's ($496.95 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Bangladesh or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $2,795 in Bangladesh (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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