Egypt vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Comparing Egypt and South Africa: Egypt leads on Apple Import Volume (153.00 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Egypt (24,000); Egypt leads on Remittances (4.90) against South Africa (0.20). Across 112 compared metrics, Egypt wins on 59 and South Africa wins on 44.

  • Communications: 6 metrics compared
  • Economy: 44 metrics compared
  • Environment: 6 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 4 metrics compared
  • Health: 11 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 29 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)72.69 %75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 73% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Press Freedom Index Score24.74 points75.71 points
Radios20.517
Televisions7.76
Waterways3,500NA

Economy

44 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country68.23B $14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars406.74B $424.75B $
Apple Import Volume153.00M tonnes48,832 tonnes
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)19.25 %5.75 %
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)18.18 %10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index60.159.6
Electricity Consumption159.7207.1
Electricity Exports1.1616.55
Electricity from Fossil Fuels9185
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants61
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04
Electricity from Other Renewables210
Electricity Imports5410.56
Electricity Installed Capacity45.1250.02
Electricity Production183.5234.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)34.98 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita
Gini Index Coefficient31.963
Gross Fixed Investment13.519.5
Gross National Saving916.1
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-1.9 %-0.4 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)28.3 %4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption57.715.07
Natural Gas Exports212.40
Natural Gas Imports7.084.16
Natural Gas Production50.86906.1
Natural Gas Proved Reserves2.190
Oil Consumption740,000553,000
Oil Exports163,00054,930
Oil Imports177,200521,400
Oil Production662,600192,100
Oil Proved Reserves4.415
Population Below Poverty Line29.7 people55.5 people
Public Debt10376.2
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2.4 USD0.6 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption878,000621,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports47,360105,600
Refined Petroleum Products Imports280,200195,200
Refined Petroleum Products Production547,500487,100
Remittances4.90.2
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)1.5429.54
Taxes and Other Revenues12.526
Unemployment Rate7.2 %33.2 %

Environment

6 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)8.14M3.23M
Carbon Dioxide Emissions236.62446.7
Continental Shelf200200
Population Distributionapproximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution mapthe 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
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country1.5 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources57.551.35

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.14 %1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)12085.66
Agricultural land42,684 sq. km963,410 sq. km
Coastline Length (km)2,450 km2,798 km
Dam capacity per capita1,394.26 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land36,50016,700

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country45.16 %61.59 %
Administrative Divisions279
Independence2831
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

11 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)19.5689.28
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)22.47.2
Health Care Spending per Capita1,127.21 USD1,541.18 USD
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.6 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) <0.1%18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1.4 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)17 %118 %
Mean Age at First Birth22.922.5
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)32 %28.3 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS24,0007.8
Underweight Children Under 53.74.9

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)836,00089,000

People and Society

29 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)64.88 %33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.50.42
Life expectancy at birth75.49 years71.98 years
Median age of population24.68 years29 years
Population Change1.96M persons673,269.7 persons
Population density120.77 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km
Total population120.19M persons65.49M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.080.83
Birth Rate (%)18.63 %17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate58.5 %54.6 %
Death Rate (%)4.33 %6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.9 % of GDP6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age30.60M persons18.20M persons
Labor Force Participation Rate33.7527.77
Learning-adjusted years of school6.48 years4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population22.18 people10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68166.68
Military Manpower at Military Age2018
Military Service Age and Obligationvoluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women; 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-o18
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization97.57 %79.63 %
Physician Density0.67 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.4 %1.06 %
Population living in slums1.9 %23.64 %
Total deaths595,263.5 persons540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)49.72 %62.02 %
Total fertility rate2.71 per woman2.17 per woman
Total net-migration73,264.1 persons39,599.6 persons
Under-five mortality rate14.71 per live births28.89 per live births

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.160.37
Airports73573
Civil Air Travel5090
Heliports6049

Other

1 metric
Metric🇪🇬 Egypt🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate19 %7 %

Related comparisons

Egypt vs South Africa: Compare Key Statistics and Facts | Geo Factbook