Djibouti vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 147 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 54.6 times as many people as Djibouti (65.49 million vs 1.2 million). South Africa's economy is 91.6 times the size of Djibouti's ($424.75 billion vs $4.64 billion GDP).
Comparing Djibouti and South Africa: Djibouti leads on Major Urban Areas Population (600,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Djibouti leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (265,200) against South Africa (27.77); South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,566 %) against Djibouti (10.00 %). Across 147 compared metrics, Djibouti wins on 45 and South Africa wins on 94.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 52 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 20 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 33 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 1.47 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 3.41 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 65.3 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 65.02 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 65% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 1.47 Mbps | 3.41 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 25.36 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 52,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 28,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
52 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 6,525★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 10 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 29.1 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 685,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 123.71 mm | 652.17 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, and the other cities in the country are a fraction of its size, as shown in this population distribution map | 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 | 1.6 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 1.6 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.02 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 300★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 11 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.77 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 86.51★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 17,052 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 23,180 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 314 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 10 | 16,700★ |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 10.51 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 31 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 31 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 27 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 31★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
20 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 8,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.63 % | 1.04 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 13,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
33 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.23 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 10 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 6 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 51.90M USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Djibouti vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Djibouti or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 54.6 times as many people as Djibouti (65.49 million vs 1.2 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Djibouti or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 91.6 times the size of Djibouti's ($424.75 billion vs $4.64 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Djibouti or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $3,867 in Djibouti (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).