Iceland vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 190 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 162 times as many people as Iceland (65.49 million vs 403,137). South Africa's economy is 10.7 times the size of Iceland's ($424.75 billion vs $39.63 billion GDP).
Comparing Iceland and South Africa: South Africa leads on Irrigated Land (16,700) against Iceland (0.50); Iceland leads on Major Urban Areas Population (216,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Iceland leads on Televisions (98,000) against South Africa (6). Across 190 compared metrics, Iceland wins on 99 and South Africa wins on 81.
- Communications: 10 metrics compared
- Economy: 68 metrics compared
- Energy: 1 metric compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 13 metrics compared
- Health: 27 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 43 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
10 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband Internet Penetration | 37.52 %ā | 5.35 % | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 37.52 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 98.21 %ā | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 99.83 %ā | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 100% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 37.52 Mbpsā | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 81.36 pointsā | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 260,000ā | 17 | |
| Televisions | 98,000ā | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
68 metricsEnergy
1 metric| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coal Reserves | 0 tonnes | 1,555.28 tonnesā |
Environment
12 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | 294,776ā | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 964 % | 87,566.02 %ā | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 2.87 Ā°C | 18.35 Ā°Cā | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 3.1ā | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | edge of continental margin or 200 nm; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,409.06 mmā | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west | 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 | 21.13 sq kmā | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 20.9 %ā | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 24 Cubic meters per yearā | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 170ā | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 6 speciesā | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.16 % | 1.94 %ā | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 23.66 | 85.66ā | |
| Agricultural land | 18,720 sq. km | 963,410 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 100,830 | 1.21Mā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,970 kmā | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 5,604.12 cubic meters per inhabitantā | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 0.5 | 16,700ā |
Government
13 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 96.93 %ā | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 64ā | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 77 index | 41 indexā | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 77 indexā | 41 index | |
| Governance Effectiveness Rating | 83.98ā | 51.87 | |
| Independence | 1 | 31ā | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 5.92 | 10.94ā | |
| Prison Population Rate | 44 per 100,000ā | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 77 | 41ā | |
| Public Trust in Government (%) | 42.5 % | 47.5 %ā | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 | |
| Trust in National Government | 42.5 % | 47.5 %ā | |
| Women in National Parliaments | 46.03 %ā | 44.86 % |
Health
27 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 74,000 personnelā | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0 %ā | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 0 | 89,000ā |
People and Society
43 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 14.35ā | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 82 | 573ā | |
| Civil Air Travel | 20 | 90ā | |
| Heliports | 1 | 49ā |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 3.22B USD | 6.72B USDā |
Other
1 metric| Metric | š®šø Iceland | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7.75 %ā | 7 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Iceland vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Iceland or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa. South Africa has 162 times as many people as Iceland (65.49 million vs 403,137). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Iceland or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 10.7 times the size of Iceland's ($424.75 billion vs $39.63 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Iceland or South Africa?ā¾
Iceland is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $98,298 in Iceland vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).