France vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 177 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
France and South Africa have similar populations (66.75 million vs 65.49 million). France's economy is 7.9 times the size of South Africa's ($3.37 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing France and South Africa: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against France (1.31); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against France (1.71); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against France (1.86). Across 177 compared metrics, France wins on 125 and South Africa wins on 43.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 48.93 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 88.65 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 86.84 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 48.93 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 76.62 points★ | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 55.3★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 34.8★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 14,932 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -6.11M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 89,400 %★ | 87,566.02 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 14.22 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 303.78★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,137.85 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second | 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 | 28.98 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 28.8 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 120 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 211★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 13 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.22 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 135.5★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 281,003.2 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 538,950 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,853 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 148.88 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,236 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 82.08 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 18★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 67 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 67 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French | 31 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 9.83 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 126 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 67 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 203,000 personnel★ | 74,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.03 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 304,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.35★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 1,218★ | 573 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 1★ | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 195★ | 90 | |
| Heliports | 405★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 85.94B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About France vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, France or South Africa?▾
France. France and South Africa have similar populations (66.75 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, France or South Africa?▾
France. France's economy is 7.9 times the size of South Africa's ($3.37 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, France or South Africa?▾
France is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $50,501 in France vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).