Brunei Darussalam vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 163 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 139 times as many people as Brunei Darussalam (65.49 million vs 469,940). South Africa's economy is 24.0 times the size of Brunei Darussalam's ($424.75 billion vs $17.73 billion GDP).
Comparing Brunei Darussalam and South Africa: Brunei Darussalam leads on Televisions (201,900) against South Africa (6); Brunei Darussalam leads on Major Urban Areas Population (266,682 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Brunei Darussalam leads on Radios (329,000) against South Africa (17). Across 163 compared metrics, Brunei Darussalam wins on 77 and South Africa wins on 74.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 61 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 21 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 37 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 21.18 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 96.3 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 99.03 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 99% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 21.18 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 53.47 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 329,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 201,900★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 209 | NA |
Economy
61 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -450,229★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.85 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 10.82★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 3,512.15 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and aro | 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 | 37.8 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 39.9 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.1 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 8.5 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 37 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 5.54 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 247★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 134 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 5,270 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 161 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 94.74 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 10 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 85.32 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 4 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 60 index | 44 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 60 index★ | 44 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.33 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 142 per 100,000★ | 288 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 60 | 44★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 7,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.65 % | 0.76 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 8,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
37 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.11★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 2 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 4 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 14 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 299.48M USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Brunei Darussalam vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Brunei Darussalam or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 139 times as many people as Brunei Darussalam (65.49 million vs 469,940). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Brunei Darussalam or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 24.0 times the size of Brunei Darussalam's ($424.75 billion vs $17.73 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Brunei Darussalam or South Africa?▾
Brunei Darussalam is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $37,727 in Brunei Darussalam vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).