Cyprus vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 167 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 47.3 times as many people as Cyprus (65.49 million vs 1.38 million). South Africa's economy is 9.8 times the size of Cyprus's ($424.75 billion vs $43.52 billion GDP).
Comparing Cyprus and South Africa: Cyprus leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (772,300) against South Africa (27.77); Cyprus leads on Major Urban Areas Population (269,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Cyprus (1,125 sq. km). Across 167 compared metrics, Cyprus wins on 79 and South Africa wins on 73.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 61 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 37.56 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 89.6 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 91.22 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 91% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 37.56 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 59.04 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994) | 17 | |
| Televisions | Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994) | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
61 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 111,239★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -168 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 20.12 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 6.84★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 288.48 mm | 652.17 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca | 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 | 38.57 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 38.6 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.41 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 780★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 7 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 6.15 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 41.93 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 1,124.92 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 9,240 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 648 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 238.47 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 269 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 67.82 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 56 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 56 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 16 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 3.95 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 114 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 56 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 12,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.61 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 13,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
38 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 53.99 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Human Capital Index | 0.81★ | 0.42 | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 84.31 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 39.04 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | 11,630 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 149.86 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 1.38M persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.89★ | 0.83 | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 1.93 liters | 3.65 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 9.95 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | NA | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 10.52 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 7.11 % | 6.56 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.7 % of GDP | 6 % of GDP★ | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 337,997.2 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 127.65 %★ | 29.84 % | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 37.56 %★ | 5.35 % | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 106.44 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Human Development Index | 0.71★ | 0.48 | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 772,300★ | 27.77 | |
| Learning-adjusted years of school | 11.81 years★ | 4.88 years | |
| Length of paid parental leave for mother | 0 days | 0 days | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 269,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 174.99★ | 166.68 | |
| Mean Years of Schooling | 12.42 years★ | 10.47 years | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 18 | |
| Military Service Age and Obligation | all Cypriot men must complete 14 months of compulsory service upon reaching the age of 18; women may volunteer for 6 months of service at age 18; men and women may also enlist as contract soldiers up to age 42 (2025) | 18 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 20.56 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 76.1 % | 79.63 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 3.56 people/sq km★ | 0.79 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.89 % | 1.06 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 0.31 % | 23.64 %★ | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 11.92★ | 30.33 | |
| Total deaths | 9,561.4 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.37 per woman | 2.17 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | 7,369.8 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 2.6 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.93 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 7.11★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 14 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 11 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 68★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 3.91B USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Cyprus vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Cyprus or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 47.3 times as many people as Cyprus (65.49 million vs 1.38 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Cyprus or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 9.8 times the size of Cyprus's ($424.75 billion vs $43.52 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Cyprus or South Africa?▾
Cyprus is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $31,460 in Cyprus vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).