Libya vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 153 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 8.7 times as many people as Libya (65.49 million vs 7.54 million). South Africa's economy is 8.8 times the size of Libya's ($424.75 billion vs $48.4 billion GDP).
Comparing Libya and South Africa: Libya leads on Televisions (730,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Libya (1.79); South Africa leads on Oil Exports (54,930) against Libya (1.39). Across 153 compared metrics, Libya wins on 62 and South Africa wins on 81.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 54 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 19 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 4.52 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 81.95 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 88.5 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 4.52 Mbps★ | 3.12 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 40.42 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 1.35 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 730,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
54 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 1.04M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -334 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 23.19 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 46.48★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 16.52 mm | 652.17 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distributio | 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 | 0.1 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 0.1 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.6 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 700★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 11 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.22 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 49.26 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 153,500 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.76M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 1,770 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 50.98 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 4,700 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 1.43 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 22★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 13 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 13 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 24 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -1.4 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 99 per 100,000★ | 288 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 13★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
19 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average BMI for Adults | 26.9 kg/m²★ | 25 kg/m² | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 89 %★ | 76 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 15.8★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 71.12 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.7 per 1,000 births★ | 1.87 per 1,000 births | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 874.81 USD | 1,541.18 USD★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 71 score | 74 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 5.1 % of GDP | 8.3 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 71.12 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.2 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 3.2 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 3.7 beds per 1,000★ | 2.25 beds per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 59 %★ | 118 % | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 6.38 per 1,000 people★ | 1.29 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 32.5 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| Out-of-Pocket Health Spending | 19.18 % | 6.69 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 9,500 | 7.8★ | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 2.04★ | 0.78 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 4.3★ | 4.9 |
Military and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 7,000 personnel | 62,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.57 % | 0.8 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 0 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.17 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 75 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 59 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 2★ | 1 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 92.80M USD | 2.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Libya vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Libya or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 8.7 times as many people as Libya (65.49 million vs 7.54 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Libya or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 8.8 times the size of Libya's ($424.75 billion vs $48.4 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Libya or South Africa?▾
They are about equally rich per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $6,422 in Libya (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).