Greece vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 177 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 6.7 times as many people as Greece (65.49 million vs 9.83 million). South Africa's economy is 48% larger than Greece's ($424.75 billion vs $287.13 billion GDP).
Comparing Greece and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Greece (17,000); Greece leads on Apple Import Volume (20.96 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on Central Bank Discount Rate (%) (5.75 %) against Greece (0.05 %). Across 177 compared metrics, Greece wins on 97 and South Africa wins on 71.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 67 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 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: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 44.68 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 86.27 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 85.01 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 44.68 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 55.37 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 5.02 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 2.54 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 80 | NA |
Economy
67 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 1.37M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 132,959.97 %★ | 87,566.02 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 16.02 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 62.06★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 759.52 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | one third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters | 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 | 34.94 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 35 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 10.3 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 68★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 12 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.73 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 34.24 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 49,262.14 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 128,900 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 13,676 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,210.72 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 12,191 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 58.09 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 13★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 49 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 49 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 3 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 6.8 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 102 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 49 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 132,000 personnel★ | 74,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.99 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 147,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 3.5★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 82 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 39 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 59★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 26.01B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Greece vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Greece or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 6.7 times as many people as Greece (65.49 million vs 9.83 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Greece or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 48% larger than Greece's ($424.75 billion vs $287.13 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Greece or South Africa?▾
Greece is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $29,209 in Greece vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).