Dominican Republic vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 5.6 times as many people as Dominican Republic (65.49 million vs 11.61 million). South Africa's economy is 2.8 times the size of Dominican Republic's ($424.75 billion vs $153.15 billion GDP).

Comparing Dominican Republic and South Africa: Dominican Republic leads on Televisions (770,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Dominican Republic (72,000); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Dominican Republic (392). Across 172 compared metrics, Dominican Republic wins on 72 and South Africa wins on 90.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 60 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🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration11.2 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)91 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)84.62 %★75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 85% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed11.2 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score69.87 points75.71 points★
Radios1.4417★
Televisions770,000★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

60 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country8.16B $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars153.15B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)27 %★14.07 %
Apple Import Volume15.05M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate64.78 %81.13 %★
Coal Revenue02.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)13.91 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.7 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index60★59.6
Electricity Consumption15.64207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels7785★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants16★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables710★
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity3.8450.02★
Electricity Production18.03234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)39.33 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate59.21 %★55.4 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-0.98 %9.52 %★
Gender Wage Gap-0.98 %★9.52 %
Gini Index Coefficient3763★
Gross Fixed Investment16.419.5★
Gross National Saving21.6★16.1
Highest GDP per Capita Countries24,543.34 USD★13,592.05 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)3 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate3.87 %3.21 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.3 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption1.165.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports1.164.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption119,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports107,300521,400★
Oil Production392192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line23.9 people★55.5 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)25.65 % of GDP★12.41 % of GDP
Public Debt34.6★76.2
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends10.53 %★7.42 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption134,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports108,500195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production16,060487,100★
Remittances9★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million20.04 researchers444.16 researchers★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)4.13★31.21
Tax Burden (% of GDP)14.7 %★25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)14.7 % of GDP25.88 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues14.526★
Top Exporting Countries28.30B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)3.86 %★-0.51 %
Unemployment Rate5.5 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate64.84 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate12.31 %★59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)1.30M★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate6,621.97 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature25.02 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions29.71★446.7
Continental Shelfouter edge of continental margin or 200 nm;200
Global Precipitation Distribution1,019.04 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributioncoastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)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 Adaptation26.3 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage26.3 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.16 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources23.551.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species6 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization6.82 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)82.785.66★
Agricultural land26,024.42 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km48,198.021.21M★
Coastline Length (km)1,288 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita193.22 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land2,98116,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country54.16 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions31★9
Corruption Perception Index36 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score36 index41 index★
Independence2731★
LGBT Rights Index Score1.0710.94★
Prison Population Rate219 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception36★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

25 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water45.33 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults25.5 kg/m²★25 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate89 %★76 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)28.13★96.29
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)17.6★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders73.87 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.01 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,445.6 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score73 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.9 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy73.87 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.9 %★18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1.6 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita1.6 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence13.44 %★16.64 %
Malaria Incidence Rate0.19 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)124 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth20.322.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density2.08 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)27.6 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending25.06 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS72,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People3 per 100,000 people★2 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors2.23★0.79
Underweight Children Under 53★4.9

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel56,000 personnel74,000 personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.8 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)71,00089,000★

People and Society

41 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)51.09 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.49★0.42
Life expectancy at birth77.76 years★71.98 years
Median age of population28.66 years29 years★
Population Change84,914.9 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density240.61 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population11.61M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.9★0.83
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA
Beer Consumption per Capita2.24 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)17.4 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate62.8 %★54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate17.62 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)6.97 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.8 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age2.98M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)77.18 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate11.2 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.86 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.430.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate5.4127.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school6.96 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population3.52 people10.32 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)172.75★166.68
Mean Years of Schooling9.04 years10.47 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1718★
Old-Age Dependency Ratio11.55 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization86.08 %★79.63 %
Physician Density2.43 people/sq km★0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.78 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums9.69 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio18.29★30.33
Total deaths70,548.5 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)64.63 %★62.02 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-41,932.7 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate30.36 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.96 %1.34 %★
Voting Age Population69.45 millions★56.77 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.52★0.37
Airports32573★
Civil Air Travel2390★
Heliports849★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita10.97B USD★6.72B USD

Other

1 metric
Metric🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate5.5 %7 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About Dominican Republic vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Dominican Republic or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 5.6 times as many people as Dominican Republic (65.49 million vs 11.61 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Dominican Republic or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2.8 times the size of Dominican Republic's ($424.75 billion vs $153.15 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Dominican Republic or South Africa?▾

Dominican Republic is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $13,188 in Dominican Republic vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons