Faroe Islands vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 106 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 1,157 times as many people as Faroe Islands (65.49 million vs 56,604). South Africa's economy is 95.7 times the size of Faroe Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $4.44 billion GDP).
Comparing Faroe Islands and South Africa: Faroe Islands leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (128,300) against South Africa (50.02); Faroe Islands leads on Televisions (15,000) against South Africa (6); Faroe Islands leads on Major Urban Areas Population (21,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people). Across 106 compared metrics, Faroe Islands wins on 46 and South Africa wins on 46.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 43 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 5 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 7 metrics compared
- People and Society: 25 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 34.59 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 97.58 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.58 %★ | 56.17 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 98% (2017 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 34.59 Mbps★ | 3.12 Mbps | |
| Radios | 26,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 15,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
43 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 11,729★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.35 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 742,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,056.23 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people | 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 | 2.43 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 0 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 4 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
5 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.53 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Agricultural land | 956.01 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1,370 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 1,117 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Divisions | 29★ | 9 | |
| Independence | none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 21 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
7 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 5.3 | 7.2★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 83.08 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 83.08 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 4.1 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
25 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 49.35 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.11 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.8 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | 549.7 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 40.95 per sq. km★ | 53.74 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 56,603.5 persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 14.76 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | NA | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 10.8 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 8.58 % | 6.56 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 7.6 % of GDP★ | 6 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 12,084.5 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 34.59 %★ | 3.12 % | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 106.59 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 27,540★ | 25.16 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 21,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 28.53 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 36.04 % | 79.63 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 2.62 people/sq km★ | 0.79 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.62 % | 1.06 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 533.9 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total fertility rate | 2.18 per woman★ | 2.17 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | 346.4 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 6.49 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 1.06 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
2 metricsFrequently Asked Questions About Faroe Islands vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Faroe Islands or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 1,157 times as many people as Faroe Islands (65.49 million vs 56,604). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Faroe Islands or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 95.7 times the size of Faroe Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $4.44 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Faroe Islands or South Africa?▾
Faroe Islands is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $78,420 in Faroe Islands vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).