Colombia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 179 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 21% more people than Colombia (65.49 million vs 53.96 million). Colombia's economy is 13% larger than South Africa's ($481.81 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Colombia and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Colombia (180,000); Colombia leads on Apple Import Volume (116.85 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against Colombia (15.19 cases per 1,000). Across 179 compared metrics, Colombia wins on 95 and South Africa wins on 75.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 25 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 17.22 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 79.35 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 77.34 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 77% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 17.22 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 49.8 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 21★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 4.59 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 18,140 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.67M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -133,284.38 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 24.35 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 85.88★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | not specified; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 3,459.68 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the majority of people live in the north and west, where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated | 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 | 17.14 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 17.2 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 510 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.36 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 63 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.75 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 184.13★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 399,320.2 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.11M | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 3,208 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 205.63 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 6,506 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 35.28 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 32★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 39 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 39 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 20 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 9.88 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 199 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 39★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 256,000 personnel★ | 74,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.2 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 428,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.58★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 661★ | 573 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 83 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 57★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 10.12B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 11.25 %★ | 7 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Colombia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Colombia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 21% more people than Colombia (65.49 million vs 53.96 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Colombia or South Africa?▾
Colombia. Colombia's economy is 13% larger than South Africa's ($481.81 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Colombia or South Africa?▾
Colombia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $8,928 in Colombia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).