Benin vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 162 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 4.3 times as many people as Benin (65.49 million vs 15.17 million). South Africa's economy is 17.8 times the size of Benin's ($424.75 billion vs $23.82 billion GDP).
Comparing Benin and South Africa: Benin leads on Radios (660,000) against South Africa (17); Benin leads on Major Urban Areas Population (285,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Benin leads on Televisions (66,000) against South Africa (6). Across 162 compared metrics, Benin wins on 54 and South Africa wins on 98.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 55 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: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.28 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 33.98 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 32.21 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 32% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.28 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 54.6 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 660,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 66,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | streams navigable along small sections, important only locally | NA |
Economy
55 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 138,516★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -37,381.98 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 28.26 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 5.95★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 934.8 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown | 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 | 34.85 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 36.1 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 1.8 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 26.39 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 16 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.1 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 103.56★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 50,700.46 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 112,760 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 121 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1.52 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 530 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 37.95 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 12★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 45 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 45 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 0.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 67 per 100,000★ | 288 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 45 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 12,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.89 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 12,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.02 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 10 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | no major transport aircraft | 90 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇧🇯 Benin | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 255.94M USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Benin vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Benin or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 4.3 times as many people as Benin (65.49 million vs 15.17 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Benin or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 17.8 times the size of Benin's ($424.75 billion vs $23.82 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Benin or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,571 in Benin (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).