China, Hong Kong SAR vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 74 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 8.9 times as many people as China, Hong Kong SAR (65.49 million vs 7.38 million). China, Hong Kong SAR and South Africa have economies of similar size ($426.47 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing China, Hong Kong SAR and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against China, Hong Kong SAR (26 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against China, Hong Kong SAR (1,050); South Africa leads on Population density (53.74 per sq. km) against China, Hong Kong SAR (6,708 per sq. km). Across 74 compared metrics, China, Hong Kong SAR wins on 49 and South Africa wins on 24.

  • Communications: 5 metrics compared
  • Economy: 19 metrics compared
  • Environment: 6 metrics compared
  • Geography: 3 metrics compared
  • Government: 5 metrics compared
  • Health: 6 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 28 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 1 metric compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

5 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration40.27 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)95.76 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)95.98 %★75.66 %
Mobile Internet Speed40.27 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score39.86 points75.71 points★

Economy

19 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars426.47B $★424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)15.8 %★14.07 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate97.31 %★81.13 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends16.5 %28 %★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate66.22 %★55.4 %
High-Tech Export Percentage38.75 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries68,724.56 USD★13,592.05 USD
Inflation Rate1.44 %★3.21 %
Private Investment (% of GDP)10.97 % of GDP11.46 % of GDP★
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)1.07 %★0.61 %
Real Interest Rate Trends4.11 %7.68 %★
Researchers in R&D per Million4,815.2 researchers★444.16 researchers
Robotics Research Funding1.07 USD★0.61 USD
Top Exporting Countries739.64B USD★127.53B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)30.81 %★0.58 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.41 %3.54 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.41 %3.54 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate56.36 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate8.96 %★59.93 %

Environment

6 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)366,864★3.23M
Average Annual Temperature23.41 °C★18.35 °C
Global Precipitation Distribution1,807.58 mm★652.17 mm
Protected Land Area for Adaptation42.03 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage42 %★9.6 %
Total Threatened Mammal Species6 species★33 species

Geography

3 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization37.86 %★1.94 %
Agricultural land26 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1,0501.21M★

Government

5 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country84.13 %★61.59 %
Corruption Perception Index74 index41 index★
Corruption Perceptions Index Score74 index★41 index
Prison Population Rate139 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception7441★

Health

6 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water100 %★68.01 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)3.41★98.21
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)8.2★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders85.39 years★66.31 years
Highest Male Life Expectancy85.39 years★66.31 years
Nurses and Midwives Density8.18 per 1,000 people★1.2 per 1,000 people

People and Society

28 metrics
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)50.57 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.84★0.42
Life expectancy at birth89.16 years★71.98 years
Median age of population47.94 years★29 years
Population Change-16,260.3 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density6,708.31 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population7.38M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.240.83★
Crude Birth Rate4.9 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Female population of reproductive age1.71M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)110.14 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate40.27 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth107.7 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.62★0.48
Learning-adjusted years of school12.31 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Mean Male Height (cm)173.61★166.68
Mean Years of Schooling12.83 years★10.47 years
Old-Age Dependency Ratio31.81 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization99.56 %★79.63 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio13.66★30.33
Total deaths58,093.2 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)56.75 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate0.71 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration5,682.5 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate1.86 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.34 %1.34 %★
Voting Age Population25.64 millions56.77 millions★

Transportation

1 metric
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)3.69★0.37

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇭🇰 China, Hong Kong SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita22.46B USD★6.72B USD

Frequently Asked Questions About China, Hong Kong SAR vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, China, Hong Kong SAR or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 8.9 times as many people as China, Hong Kong SAR (65.49 million vs 7.38 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, China, Hong Kong SAR or South Africa?▾

China, Hong Kong SAR. China, Hong Kong SAR and South Africa have economies of similar size ($426.47 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, China, Hong Kong SAR or South Africa?▾

China, Hong Kong SAR is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $57,809 in China, Hong Kong SAR vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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