Croatia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 17.1 times as many people as Croatia (65.49 million vs 3.82 million). South Africa's economy is 3.9 times the size of Croatia's ($424.75 billion vs $110.02 billion GDP).
Comparing Croatia and South Africa: Croatia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (684,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Croatia leads on Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) (-2,748) against South Africa (3.23 million); South Africa leads on Natural Gas Production (906.10) against Croatia (1.05). Across 176 compared metrics, Croatia wins on 92 and South Africa wins on 75.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 29.6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 83.63 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 83.24 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 83% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 29.6 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 64.2 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 1.51 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 1.22 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 785 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -2,748★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 1,320 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 13.14 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 16.47★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 987.55 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands 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 | 38.41 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 38.4 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 11 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 105.5★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 2.25 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 174.01★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 14,234 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 55,960 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 5,835 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 253.92 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 170 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 58.25 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 20★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 47 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 47 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 25 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 6.96 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 87 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 47 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 17,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.02 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 20,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.91★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 45 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | NA major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 7 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 16.58B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Croatia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Croatia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 17.1 times as many people as Croatia (65.49 million vs 3.82 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Croatia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 3.9 times the size of Croatia's ($424.75 billion vs $110.02 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Croatia or South Africa?▾
Croatia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $28,794 in Croatia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).