Guatemala vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 3.5 times as many people as Guatemala (65.49 million vs 18.97 million). South Africa's economy is 3.2 times the size of Guatemala's ($424.75 billion vs $131.03 billion GDP).
Comparing Guatemala and South Africa: Guatemala leads on Radios (835,000) against South Africa (17); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Guatemala (33,000); Guatemala leads on Apple Import Volume (44.01 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes). Across 172 compared metrics, Guatemala wins on 69 and South Africa wins on 94.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 62 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: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.34 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 60.22 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 56.05 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 56% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.34 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 40.32 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 835,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 1.32 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 990 | NA |
Economy
62 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 144,362★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -13,190.04 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 23.69 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 18.55★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | not specific; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,721.19 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas | 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 | 20.1 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 20.1 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 33.7 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 127.91★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 16 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 7.41 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 124.05★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 46,821.2 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 107,160 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 400 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 24.43 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 3,375 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 16.31 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 22★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 25 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 25 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 142 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 25★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 18,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.52 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 43,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.09 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 58 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 8 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 2 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.66B USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 4 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Guatemala vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Guatemala or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 3.5 times as many people as Guatemala (65.49 million vs 18.97 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Guatemala or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 3.2 times the size of Guatemala's ($424.75 billion vs $131.03 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Guatemala or South Africa?▾
Guatemala is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,907 in Guatemala vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).