Kenya vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 106 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Kenya and South Africa: Kenya leads on Televisions (730,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Kenya (136); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (105,600) against Kenya (173). Across 106 compared metrics, Kenya wins on 38 and South Africa wins on 60.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 28 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 22.67 % | 69.7 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 35% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 49.41 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.07 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 730,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | NA note: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 39,712★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 19.02★ | 446.7 | |
| Population Distribution | population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, 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 | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 3.5 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 30.7 | 51.35★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 7.44 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 200.38★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 288,791 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 536 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 419.81 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 1,030 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 47.74 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 47★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 12 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 3.1 | 7.2★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.5 % of GDP | 8.3 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 4 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 1.4 people/sq km | 2.3 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 379 % | 118 %★ | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 19.8 | 22.5★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 7.1 %★ | 28.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 1.4★ | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.8 | 4.9★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 24,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
28 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.11 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 368 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 19 | 90★ |