Ethiopia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Ethiopia has 2.1 times as many people as South Africa (138.88 million vs 65.49 million). South Africa's economy is 2.4 times the size of Ethiopia's ($424.75 billion vs $174.87 billion GDP).
Comparing Ethiopia and South Africa: Ethiopia leads on Televisions (682,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Ethiopia (620,000); Ethiopia leads on Oil Proved Reserves (430,000) against South Africa (15). Across 170 compared metrics, Ethiopia wins on 59 and South Africa wins on 100.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 65 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 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 | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.59 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 21.94 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 16.7 % | 74.97 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 17% (2021 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.59 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 36.92 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 15.2 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 682,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
65 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 266,630★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -3,919.92 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 24.08 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 18.52★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 829.13 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, 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 | 17 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 17 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 20 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 122★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 40 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 5.3 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 121.31★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 393,721.2 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.13M | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 222.45 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 1,814 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 17.95 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 12★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 37 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 37 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years; may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which appeared in the first century B.C. | 31 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.39 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 99 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 37★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 503,000 personnel★ | 74,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.49 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 138,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.03 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 58 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 25 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 1 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 5.00B USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethiopia vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Ethiopia or South Africa?▾
Ethiopia. Ethiopia has 2.1 times as many people as South Africa (138.88 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Ethiopia or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2.4 times the size of Ethiopia's ($424.75 billion vs $174.87 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Ethiopia or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,259 in Ethiopia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).