China, Macao SAR vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 58 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 90.5 times as many people as China, Macao SAR (65.49 million vs 723,752). South Africa's economy is 7.0 times the size of China, Macao SAR's ($424.75 billion vs $60.53 billion GDP).

Comparing China, Macao SAR and South Africa: South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against China, Macao SAR (33); South Africa leads on High-Tech Export Percentage (45.27 %) against China, Macao SAR (0.06 %); South Africa leads on Population Change (673,270 persons) against China, Macao SAR (-1,267 persons). Across 58 compared metrics, China, Macao SAR wins on 38 and South Africa wins on 20.

  • Communications: 4 metrics compared
  • Economy: 20 metrics compared
  • Environment: 2 metrics compared
  • Geography: 2 metrics compared
  • Government: 2 metrics compared
  • Health: 5 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 22 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

4 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration29.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)89.83 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)89.18 %★75.66 %
Mobile Internet Speed29.86 Mbps★5.35 Mbps

Economy

20 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars60.53B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.08 %★14.07 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends12 %28 %★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate73.89 %★55.4 %
High-Tech Export Percentage0.06 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries117,098.27 USD★13,592.05 USD
Inflation Rate0.33 %★3.21 %
Private Investment (% of GDP)7.3 % of GDP11.46 % of GDP★
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.43 %0.61 %★
Real Interest Rate Trends4.97 %7.68 %★
Researchers in R&D per Million3,498.49 researchers★444.16 researchers
Robotics Research Funding0.43 USD0.61 USD★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)27.42 %25.88 %★
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)27.42 % of GDP★25.88 % of GDP
Top Exporting Countries45.60B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.82 %★0.58 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP16.64 %★3.54 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)16.64 %★3.54 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate67.85 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate6.78 %★59.93 %

Environment

2 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)13,462.94★3.23M
Total Threatened Mammal Species0 species★33 species

Geography

2 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization50.48 %★1.94 %
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km331.21M★

Government

2 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country75.61 %★61.59 %
Prison Population Rate185 per 100,000★260 per 100,000

Health

5 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water100 %★68.01 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)8.1★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders83.33 years★66.31 years
Highest Male Life Expectancy83.33 years★66.31 years
Nurses and Midwives Density3.79 per 1,000 people★1.2 per 1,000 people

People and Society

22 metrics
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)55.39 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.88★0.42
Life expectancy at birth85.55 years★71.98 years
Median age of population40.03 years★29 years
Population Change-1,266.7 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density22,885.08 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population723,752 persons65.49M persons★
Crude Birth Rate5.3 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Female population of reproductive age199,329 persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)134.41 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate29.86 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth107.57 male/female★103.52 male/female
Learning-adjusted years of school13.06 years★4.88 years
Mean Years of Schooling10.97 years★10.47 years
Old-Age Dependency Ratio18.6 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization99.89 %★79.63 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio14.08★30.33
Total deaths3,566.4 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total fertility rate0.64 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-1,994.6 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate3.37 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.16 %1.34 %★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇲🇴 China, Macao SAR🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita32.41B USD★5.96B USD

Frequently Asked Questions About China, Macao SAR vs South Africa

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

South Africa. South Africa has 90.5 times as many people as China, Macao SAR (65.49 million vs 723,752). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 7.0 times the size of China, Macao SAR's ($424.75 billion vs $60.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

China, Macao SAR is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $83,639 in China, Macao SAR vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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