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Geo Factbook

Israel vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Israel
isr
Leads on 88 of 170 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 68 of 170 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 6.8 times as many people as Israel (65.49 million vs 9.65 million). Israel's economy is 43% larger than South Africa's ($608.3 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing Israel and South Africa: Israel leads on Apple Import Volume (67.63 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Israel (9,000); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Israel (3,913 sq. km). Across 170 compared metrics, Israel wins on 88 and South Africa wins on 68.

  • Communications: 8 metrics compared
  • Economy: 67 metrics compared
  • Environment: 10 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

8 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Internet Penetration Rate (%)88.18 %ā˜…78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)87.04 %ā˜…75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 87% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed29.18 Mbpsā˜…5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score51.06 points75.71 pointsā˜…
Radios3.0717ā˜…
Televisions1.696ā˜…
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

67 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country7.20B $14.21B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars608.30B $ā˜…424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)23.43 %ā˜…14.07 %
Apple Import Volume67.63M tonnesā˜…48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate89.27 %ā˜…81.13 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0.1 %5.75 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue02.4ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)3.5 %10.38 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends23 %28 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.5 % of GDP8.3 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index94.1ā˜…59.6
Electricity Consumption55207.1ā˜…
Electricity Exports5.216.55ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels95ā˜…85
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants01ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables510ā˜…
Electricity Imports010.56ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity17.5950.02ā˜…
Electricity Production63.09234.5ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)112.44 USD per capitaā˜…86.2 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate72.69 %ā˜…55.4 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage15.99 %ā˜…10 %
Gender Wage Gap15.99 %10 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient37.963ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment19.519.5
Gross National Saving23.6ā˜…16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage65.8 %ā˜…45.27 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries48,196.63 USDā˜…13,592.05 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-4.2 %-0.4 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate3.04 %ā˜…3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.1 %ā˜…4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)8 % of GDPā˜…0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption10ā˜…5.07
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports509.7ā˜…4.16
Natural Gas Production9.83906.1ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves176ā˜…0
Number of AI Patents Filed27 patentsā˜…22 patents
Oil Consumption238,000553,000ā˜…
Oil Exports86,010ā˜…54,930
Oil Imports282,200521,400ā˜…
Oil Production4,029192,100ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves1.9415ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line22 peopleā˜…55.5 people
Public Debt59.6ā˜…76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)6.18 %ā˜…0.61 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.9 USDā˜…0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends-1.81 %3.37 %ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption242,200621,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports111,700ā˜…105,600
Refined Petroleum Products Imports98,860195,200ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production294,300487,100ā˜…
Remittances0.20.2
Robotics Research Funding6.18 USDā˜…0.61 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.73ā˜…31.21
Tax Burden (% of GDP)23.24 %ā˜…25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)23.24 % of GDP25.88 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues22.126ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries153.66B USDā˜…127.53B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)4.29 %ā˜…-0.51 %
Total Number of Billionaires42ā˜…7
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.87 %3.54 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.87 %3.54 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate3.2 %ā˜…33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate65.49 %55.58 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate6.03 %ā˜…59.93 %

Environment

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-2.74Mā˜…3.23M
Average Annual Temperature21.32 Ā°Cā˜…18.35 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions64.4ā˜…446.7
Continental Shelfto depth of exploitation;200
Global Precipitation Distribution154.13 mm652.17 mmā˜…
Population Distributionpopulation concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated, with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqabathe 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 Adaptation28.53 sq kmā˜…9.88 sq km
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country1.23 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources1.7851.35ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species16 speciesā˜…33 species

Geography

6 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization12.07 %ā˜…1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)7.6985.66ā˜…
Agricultural land3,913.4 sq. km963,410 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km21,6401.21Mā˜…
Coastline Length (km)273 km2,798 kmā˜…
Irrigated Land1,92716,700ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country76.29 %ā˜…61.59 %
Administrative Divisions69ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index64 index41 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score64 indexā˜…41 index
Independence1431ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score6.8310.94ā˜…
Prison Population Rate234 per 100,000ā˜…286 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception6441ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water99.46 %ā˜…68.01 %
Average BMI for Adults27.6 kg/mĀ²ā˜…25 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate98 %ā˜…76 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)22.95ā˜…102.05
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)10.1ā˜…7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders83.2 yearsā˜…66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.28 per 1,000 birthsā˜…1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita4,912.64 USDā˜…1,541.18 USD
Health Coverage Index Score85 scoreā˜…74 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.9 % of GDP8.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy83.2 yearsā˜…66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.2 %ā˜…19.1 %
Hospital Bed Density3 people/sq kmā˜…2.3 people/sq km
Low Birth Weight Prevalence8.98 %ā˜…16.64 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)2 %ā˜…118 %
Mean Age at First Birth27.3ā˜…22.5
Nurses and Midwives Density5.82 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)26.1 %ā˜…28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending20.49 %6.69 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS9,0007.8ā˜…
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)4.62 %ā˜…4.08 %
Total Number of Doctors3.69ā˜…0.79
Underweight Children Under 5NA5.5

Military and Security

2 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)7.81 %0.74 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)178,000ā˜…89,000

People and Society

38 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)48.6 %ā˜…33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.77ā˜…0.42
Life expectancy at birth84.84 yearsā˜…71.98 years
Median age of population29.29 yearsā˜…29 years
Population Change119,748.8 persons673,269.7 personsā˜…
Population density446.84 per sq. km53.74 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population9.65M persons65.49M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.84ā˜…0.83
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAAā˜…A
Birth Rate (%)18.89 %ā˜…17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate18.6 per 1,000 peopleā˜…18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)4.89 %ā˜…6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)5.9 % of GDP6 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age2.23M persons18.20M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)67.19 %ā˜…29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate29.18 %ā˜…5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.37 male/femaleā˜…103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.77ā˜…0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate4.7127.77ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school11.19 yearsā˜…4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population4.42 people10.32 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)176.86ā˜…166.68
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio20.66 %9.65 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization93.9 %ā˜…79.63 %
Physician Density3.8 people/sq kmā˜…0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.59 %ā˜…1.06 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio12.09ā˜…30.33
Total deaths53,774.5 personsā˜…540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)44.57 %62.02 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate2.66 per womanā˜…2.17 per woman
Total net-migration4,734.6 persons39,599.6 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate3.8 per live birthsā˜…28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.24 %1.34 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population78.73 millionsā˜…47.28 millions

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.47ā˜…0.37
Airports40573ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel3290ā˜…
Heliports1349ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita2.47B USD6.72B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡± IsraelšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate4 %7 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Israel vs South Africa

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

South Africa. South Africa has 6.8 times as many people as Israel (65.49 million vs 9.65 million). Data for 2026.

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

Israel. Israel's economy is 43% larger than South Africa's ($608.3 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Israel is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $63,053 in Israel vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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