Indonesia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 180 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Indonesia has 4.4 times as many people as South Africa (287.95 million vs 65.49 million). Indonesia's economy is 3.8 times the size of South Africa's ($1.61 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing Indonesia and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Indonesia (1.29); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Indonesia (1.60); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Indonesia (1.03). Across 180 compared metrics, Indonesia wins on 90 and South Africa wins on 81.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 25 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration4.92 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)72.78 %78.36 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)69.21 %75.66 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 69% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed4.92 Mbps5.35 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score44.13 points75.71 pointsā˜…
Radios31.5ā˜…17
Televisions13.75ā˜…6
Waterways21,579NA

Economy

68 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country195.20B $ā˜…14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars1.61T $ā˜…424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)31.4 %ā˜…14.07 %
Apple Import Volume154.33M tonnesā˜…48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate56.33 %81.13 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)6.37 %ā˜…5.75 %
Coal Revenue1.062.4ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.07 %ā˜…10.38 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends25 %28 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2.9 % of GDP8.3 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index69.6ā˜…59.6
Electricity Consumption213.4ā˜…207.1
Electricity Exports016.55ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8585
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants9ā˜…1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables610ā˜…
Electricity Imports693ā˜…10.56
Electricity Installed Capacity61.43ā˜…50.02
Electricity Production235.4ā˜…234.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)37.39 USD per capita86.2 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate55.86 %ā˜…55.4 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage14.23 %ā˜…9.52 %
Gender Wage Gap14.23 %9.52 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient38.363ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment33.6ā˜…19.5
Gross National Saving31.7ā˜…16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage32.04 %45.27 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries15,091.01 USDā˜…13,592.05 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)5.2 %ā˜…-0.4 %
Inflation Rate1.91 %ā˜…3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.7 %ā˜…4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.8 % of GDPā˜…0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption42.32ā˜…5.07
Natural Gas Exports29.78ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports04.16ā˜…
Natural Gas Production72.09906.1ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves2.87ā˜…0
Number of AI Patents Filed2 patents3 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption1.29553,000ā˜…
Oil Exports404,100ā˜…54,930
Oil Imports767,400ā˜…521,400
Oil Production1.03192,100ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves3.9915ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line9.4 peopleā˜…55.5 people
Public Debt45.34ā˜…76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.28 %0.6 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5 USDā˜…0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends5.99 %7.68 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption1.6621,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports79,930105,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports591,500ā˜…195,200
Refined Petroleum Products Production950,000ā˜…487,100
Remittances1.1ā˜…0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million395.34 researchers459.99 researchersā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.28 USD0.6 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)25.66ā˜…31.21
Tax Burden (% of GDP)11.06 %ā˜…21.89 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)11.06 % of GDP21.89 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues11.626ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries309.75B USDā˜…127.53B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.54 %ā˜…-0.51 %
Total Number of Billionaires33ā˜…7
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.24 %ā˜…2.11 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.24 %ā˜…2.11 %
Unemployment Rate3.3 %ā˜…33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate67.97 %55.58 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate12.98 %ā˜…59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)49.86M3.23Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate81,479.69 %87,566.02 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature25.5 °Cā˜…18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions829.66446.7ā˜…
Continental Shelfto depth of exploitation;200
Global Precipitation Distribution3,661.64 mmā˜…652.17 mm
Population Distributionmajor concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands, Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda and along the nothe 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 Adaptation11.94 sq kmā˜…9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage12 %ā˜…9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country457.4 Cubic meters per yearā˜…4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources2.0251.35ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species212 species33 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization6.34 %ā˜…1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)178.95ā˜…85.66
Agricultural land566,387.6 sq. km963,410 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.89Mā˜…1.21M
Coastline Length (km)54,716 kmā˜…2,798 km
Dam capacity per capita83.21 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land67,220ā˜…16,700

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country52.07 %61.59 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions35ā˜…9
Corruption Perception Index37 indexā˜…41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score37 index41 indexā˜…
Independence1731ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-1.2910.94ā˜…
Prison Population Rate96 per 100,000ā˜…260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception37ā˜…41
Suffrage Participation Rate1718ā˜…

Health

25 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water30.46 %68.01 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults22.5 kg/m²25 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate85 %ā˜…76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)11.3ā˜…7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders71.29 yearsā˜…66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.83 per 1,000 birthsā˜…1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita467.45 USD1,541.18 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score67 score74 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.7 % of GDP8.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy71.29 yearsā˜…66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %ā˜…18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1 people/sq km2.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita0.56 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence9.93 %ā˜…16.64 %
Malaria Incidence Rate2.23 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)140 %118 %ā˜…
Mean Age at First Birth22.8ā˜…22.5
Nurses and Midwives Density4.12 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)6.9 %ā˜…28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending31.08 %6.69 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS540,0007.8ā˜…
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 peopleā˜…
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)1.45 %4.08 %ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.680.79ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 515.94.9ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel396,000 personnelā˜…74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.04 %0.74 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)676,000ā˜…89,000

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)69.41 %ā˜…33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.57ā˜…0.42
Life expectancy at birth75.18 yearsā˜…71.98 years
Median age of population30.63 yearsā˜…29 years
Population Change2.42M personsā˜…673,269.7 persons
Population density150.7 per sq. km53.74 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population287.95M personsā˜…65.49M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.330.83ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAAā˜…A
Beer Consumption per Capita0.05 liters3.65 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)14.55 %17.21 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate55.5 %ā˜…54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate15.76 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)6.82 %6.56 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)1.3 % of GDP6 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age73.72M personsā˜…18.20M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)49.89 %ā˜…29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate4.92 %5.35 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.69 male/femaleā˜…103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.420.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate143.14ā˜…27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school8.42 yearsā˜…4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population11.25 peopleā˜…10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)163.55166.68ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling9.06 years10.47 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.36 %9.65 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization86.06 %ā˜…79.63 %
Physician Density0.52 people/sq km0.79 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.7 %1.06 %ā˜…
Population living in slums16.48 %23.64 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio16.56ā˜…32.77
Total deaths1.95M persons540,582.7 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)48.28 %62.02 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate2.08 per woman2.17 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-50,092.6 persons39,599.6 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate18.6 per live birthsā˜…28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.87 %ā˜…1.34 %
Voting Age Population82.11 millionsā˜…39.64 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.54ā˜…0.37
Airports556573ā˜…
Civil Air Travelabout 216 commercial transport aircraft90
Heliports53ā˜…49

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita17.75B USDā˜…6.72B USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡© IndonesiašŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate5.25 %7 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Indonesia vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Indonesia or South Africa?ā–¾

Indonesia. Indonesia has 4.4 times as many people as South Africa (287.95 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Indonesia or South Africa?ā–¾

Indonesia. Indonesia's economy is 3.8 times the size of South Africa's ($1.61 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Indonesia or South Africa?ā–¾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $5,591 in Indonesia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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