Ecuador 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 3.6 times as many people as Ecuador (65.49 million vs 18.44 million). South Africa's economy is 3.0 times the size of Ecuador's ($424.75 billion vs $141.64 billion GDP).
Comparing Ecuador and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Ecuador (45,000); Ecuador leads on Apple Import Volume (53.02 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); Ecuador leads on Natural Gas Consumption (453.10) against South Africa (5.07). Across 176 compared metrics, Ecuador wins on 74 and South Africa wins on 91.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 65 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
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 17.25 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 77.17 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 72.69 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 77% (2024 est.) according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 17.25 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 53.76 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 5 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 2.5 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 1,500 | NA |
Economy
65 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 1.38M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -30,153.91 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 21.2 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 38.29★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 3,271.94 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain 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 | 23.92 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 23.8 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 134 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 442.4★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 49 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.81 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 177.02★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 53,672 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 248,360 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,237 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 411.26 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 12,520 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 15.78 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 24★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 32 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 32 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 24 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 8.88 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 196 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 32★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 41,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.1 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 42,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.35 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 317 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 23 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 28 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.79B USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecuador vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Ecuador or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 3.6 times as many people as Ecuador (65.49 million vs 18.44 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Ecuador or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 3.0 times the size of Ecuador's ($424.75 billion vs $141.64 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Ecuador or South Africa?▾
Ecuador is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,679 in Ecuador vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).