Guinea-Bissau vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 155 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 28.5 times as many people as Guinea-Bissau (65.49 million vs 2.3 million). South Africa's economy is 173 times the size of Guinea-Bissau's ($424.75 billion vs $2.46 billion GDP).
Comparing Guinea-Bissau and South Africa: Guinea-Bissau leads on Major Urban Areas Population (664,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Guinea-Bissau leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (845,300) against South Africa (27.77); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Guinea-Bissau (37,000). Across 155 compared metrics, Guinea-Bissau wins on 42 and South Africa wins on 103.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 56 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 35 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.39 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 29.78 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 32.47 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 33% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.39 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 51.36 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 49,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | NA | 6 | |
| Waterways | several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping | NA |
Economy
56 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 12,847★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -4,237.99 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 27.56 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 366,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,621.01 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, 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 | 26.25 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 26.2 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 14 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 31.4 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 15 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.07 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 84 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 8,653.15 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 28,120 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 350 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 250 | 16,700★ |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 6.54 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 21 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 21 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 24 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 21★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 4,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.89 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 4,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
35 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.04 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 7 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 2 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 23.22M USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Guinea-Bissau vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Guinea-Bissau or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 28.5 times as many people as Guinea-Bissau (65.49 million vs 2.3 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Guinea-Bissau or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 173 times the size of Guinea-Bissau's ($424.75 billion vs $2.46 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Guinea-Bissau or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,072 in Guinea-Bissau (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).