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Geo Factbook

Iran vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Iran
irn
Leads on 93 of 171 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 66 of 171 metrics

Summary

Iran has 42% more people than South Africa (93.27 million vs 65.49 million). Iran's economy is 38% larger than South Africa's ($584.26 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing Iran and South Africa: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Iran (1.80); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Iran (1.84); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against Iran (1.76). Across 171 compared metrics, Iran wins on 93 and South Africa wins on 66.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 61 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration12.06 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)85.34 %ā˜…78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)79.63 %ā˜…75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 80% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed12.06 Mbpsā˜…5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score16.22 points75.71 pointsā˜…
Radios1717
Televisions4.616ā˜…
Waterways904NA

Economy

61 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country58.51B $ā˜…14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars584.26B $ā˜…424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)44.35 %ā˜…14.07 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate91.06 %ā˜…81.13 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)NA5.75 %
Coal Revenue0.012.4ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)18 %ā˜…10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.7 % of GDPā˜…8.3 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index67.8ā˜…59.6
Electricity Consumption236.3ā˜…207.1
Electricity Exports6.8216.55ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8485ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants15ā˜…1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels14ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables010ā˜…
Electricity Imports4.2210.56ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity77.6ā˜…50.02
Electricity Production272.3ā˜…234.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)160.78 USD per capitaā˜…86.2 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate15.65 %55.4 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient34.863ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment31.2ā˜…19.5
Gross National Saving37.9ā˜…16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage49.66 %ā˜…45.27 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries16,833.78 USDā˜…13,592.05 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.8 %ā˜…-0.4 %
Inflation Rate42.17 %3.21 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)32.5 %4.4 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDPā˜…0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption206.9ā˜…5.07
Natural Gas Exports11.64ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports3.994.16ā˜…
Natural Gas Production214.5906.1ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves33.72ā˜…0
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents7 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption1.85553,000ā˜…
Oil Exports2.5254,930ā˜…
Oil Imports297,100521,400ā˜…
Oil Production4.25192,100ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves137ā˜…15
Population Below Poverty Line18.7 peopleā˜…55.5 people
Public Debt39.5ā˜…76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.73 %ā˜…0.61 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)3 USDā˜…0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends3.45 %ā˜…3.28 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption1.8621,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports397,200ā˜…105,600
Refined Petroleum Products Imports64,160195,200ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production1.76487,100ā˜…
Remittances00.2ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million2,239.74 researchersā˜…454.8 researchers
Robotics Research Funding0.73 USDā˜…0.61 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)3.3ā˜…31.21
Tax Burden (% of GDP)7.36 %ā˜…21.89 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)7.36 % of GDP21.89 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues17.326.11ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries111.93B USD127.53B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.3 %0.58 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate9.2 %ā˜…33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate40.97 %ā˜…55.58 %
Youth Unemployment Rate21.9 %ā˜…59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)2.96Mā˜…3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %87,566.02 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature19.71 Ā°Cā˜…18.35 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions823.36446.7ā˜…
Continental Shelfnot specific;200
Global Precipitation Distribution212.24 mm652.17 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast, dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a mthe 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 Adaptation7.96 sq km9.88 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage7.8 %9.6 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country49.3 Cubic meters per yearā˜…4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources137ā˜…51.35
Total Threatened Mammal Species18 speciesā˜…33 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.23 %1.94 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)137.67ā˜…85.66
Agricultural land472,428 sq. km963,410 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.62Mā˜…1.21M
Coastline Length (km)2,440 km2,798 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita477.98 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land79,721ā˜…16,700

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country10.13 %61.59 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions31ā˜…9
Corruption Perception Index23 indexā˜…41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score23 index41 indexā˜…
Independence131ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score-2.510.94ā˜…
Prison Population Rate228 per 100,000ā˜…259 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception23ā˜…41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water94.41 %ā˜…68.01 %
Average BMI for Adults25.2 kg/mĀ²ā˜…25 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate99 %ā˜…76 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)35.66ā˜…98.21
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)9ā˜…7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders77.85 yearsā˜…66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.54 per 1,000 birthsā˜…1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,193.5 USD1,541.18 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score81 scoreā˜…74 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.8 % of GDP8.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy77.85 yearsā˜…66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) <0.1%18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1.6 people/sq km2.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.64 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate2.18 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)16 %ā˜…118 %
Nurses and Midwives Density1.97 per 1,000 peopleā˜…1.2 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)25.8 %ā˜…28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending43.15 %6.69 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS54,0007.8ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors1.51ā˜…0.74
Underweight Children Under 54.3ā˜…4.9

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel610,000 personnelā˜…74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.09 %0.74 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)650,000ā˜…89,000

People and Society

41 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)67.96 %ā˜…33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.61ā˜…0.42
Life expectancy at birth81.67 yearsā˜…71.98 years
Median age of population34.48 yearsā˜…29 years
Population Change782,588.4 personsā˜…673,269.7 persons
Population density57.41 per sq. km53.74 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population93.27M personsā˜…65.49M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.060.83ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA
Beer Consumption per Capita0 liters3.65 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)11.24 %17.21 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate12.57 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)4.42 %ā˜…6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.8 % of GDP6 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age24.90M personsā˜…18.20M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)59.13 %ā˜…29.68 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate12.06 %ā˜…5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.14 male/femaleā˜…103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.370.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate28.58ā˜…27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school8.35 yearsā˜…4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population9.5 people10.32 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)173.57ā˜…166.68
Mean Years of Schooling9.8 years10.47 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age21ā˜…18
Military Service Age and Obligation1618ā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio11.43 %9.65 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization84.83 %ā˜…79.63 %
Physician Density1.81 people/sq kmā˜…0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate-0.87 %1.06 %ā˜…
Population living in slums43.64 %ā˜…23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio26.77ā˜…30.33
Total deaths390,941 personsā˜…540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)59.47 %62.02 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.66 per woman2.17 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration66,609.8 personsā˜…39,599.6 persons
Under-five mortality rate9.78 per live birthsā˜…28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.39 %ā˜…1.34 %
Voting Age Population38.84 millions39.64 millionsā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.210.37ā˜…
Airports177573ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel4890ā˜…
Heliports90ā˜…49

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.25B USD9.79B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡· IranšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate23 %ā˜…7 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Iran vs South Africa

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

Iran. Iran has 42% more people than South Africa (93.27 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.

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

Iran. Iran's economy is 38% larger than South Africa's ($584.26 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

They are about equally rich per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $6,264 in Iran (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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