Chad vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 159 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 3.0 times as many people as Chad (65.49 million vs 21.71 million). South Africa's economy is 19.5 times the size of Chad's ($424.75 billion vs $21.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Chad and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Chad (110,000); South Africa leads on Mobile Internet Speed (2.10 Mbps) against Chad (0.00 Mbps); South Africa leads on Fixed Broadband Penetration (2.10 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants) against Chad (0.00 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants). Across 159 compared metrics, Chad wins on 49 and South Africa wins on 102.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 56 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 21 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 | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 2.1 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 12.63 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 13.18 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 13% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0 Mbps | 2.1 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 51.89 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 1.67 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 10,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,000 | NA |
Economy
56 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -16,993★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -127,914.02 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 28.02 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 2.05★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 208.02 mm | 652.17 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated, as | 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 | 21 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 21 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 11.5 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 45.7 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 16 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.29 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 91.23★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 503,380 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.26M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 300 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 9.14 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 23★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 21 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 21 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 11 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 0.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 41 per 100,000★ | 328 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 21★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
21 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 33,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.19 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 45,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.01 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 44 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 3 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 25.00M USD | 3.69B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Chad vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Chad or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 3.0 times as many people as Chad (65.49 million vs 21.71 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Chad or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 19.5 times the size of Chad's ($424.75 billion vs $21.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Chad or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,002 in Chad (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).