British Virgin Islands vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 99 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 1,637 times as many people as British Virgin Islands (65.49 million vs 39,993).

Comparing British Virgin Islands and South Africa: South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,568 %) against British Virgin Islands (-2.00 %); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against British Virgin Islands (70 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against British Virgin Islands (150). Across 99 compared metrics, British Virgin Islands wins on 39 and South Africa wins on 43.

  • Communications: 8 metrics compared
  • Economy: 35 metrics compared
  • Environment: 8 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 4 metrics compared
  • Health: 7 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 28 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 2 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

8 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration24.91 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)77.7 %★56.17 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)77.7 %★56.17 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 78% (2017 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed24.91 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Radios9,000★17
Televisions4,000★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

35 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Corporate Tax Rate Trends0 %28 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)NA8.3 % of GDP
Electricity Consumption117.5207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels97★85
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants01★
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables310★
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity45,200★50.02
Electricity Production126.3234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)67 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Gross Fixed Investment23.2★19.6
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)1.1 %★-0.15 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)8.5 %4.4 %★
Natural Gas Consumption05.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption1,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports752521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty LineNA55.5 people
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2 USD★0.6 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption20,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports1,227195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Taxes and Other Revenues38.9★26.11
Tourism Contribution to GDP33.2 %★2.76 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)33.2 %★2.76 %
Unemployment Rate2.9 %★27.99 %

Environment

8 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)7,122★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-2 %87,567.97 %★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions188,000446.7★
Continental Shelf200200
Population Distributiona fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populationsthe 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 Adaptation10.92 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage10.5 %★9.6 %
Total Threatened Mammal Species1 species★33 species

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization8.37 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)210★85.66
Agricultural land70 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1501.21M★
Coastline Length (km)80 km2,798 km★
Irrigated LandNA16,700

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Administrative Divisionsnone (overseas territory of the UK)9
Independencenone (overseas territory of the UK)31
Prison Population Rate477 per 100,000286 per 100,000★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

7 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Female Life Expectancy Leaders77.43 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.65 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Highest Male Life Expectancy77.43 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA18.3 %
Nurses and Midwives Density9.11 per 1,000 people★1.2 per 1,000 people
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA7.8
Underweight Children Under 5NA5.5

People and Society

28 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)46.57 %★33.25 %
Life expectancy at birth81.07 years★71.98 years
Median age of population39 years★29 years
Population Change254.8 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density262.09 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population39,993 persons65.49M persons★
Birth Rate (%)10.8 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate8.22 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)5.58 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.2 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age11,896.75 persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)32.21 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate24.91 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.38 male/female★103.52 male/female
Labor Force Participation Rate12,770★22.4
Major Urban Areas Population15,000 people★10.32 people
Old-Age Dependency Ratio12.19 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization64.32 %79.63 %★
Physician DensityNA0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.78 %★1.06 %
Population living in slums-1.13 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.74★30.33
Total deaths233.1 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total fertility rate1.08 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration160.4 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate11.39 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate2.22 %★1.34 %

Transportation

2 metrics
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Airports3573★
Heliports249★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita484.00M USD9.14B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About British Virgin Islands vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, British Virgin Islands or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 1,637 times as many people as British Virgin Islands (65.49 million vs 39,993). Data for 2026.

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