Maldives vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 157 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 123 times as many people as Maldives (65.49 million vs 531,553). South Africa's economy is 47.2 times the size of Maldives's ($424.75 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP).
Comparing Maldives and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Maldives (53 sq. km); Maldives leads on Major Urban Areas Population (177,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Maldives leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (270,300) against South Africa (27.77). Across 157 compared metrics, Maldives wins on 73 and South Africa wins on 73.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 59 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 19.65 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 85.24 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 84.69 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 19.65 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 52.46 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 35,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 10,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
59 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 100,876★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.91★ | 446.7 | |
| Population Distribution | about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago | 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 | 3.21 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 3 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.03 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 30 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 2 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.29 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 135★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 53 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 298 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 644 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 63.29 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 21★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 38 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 38 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 26 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -1.43 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 276 per 100,000★ | 288 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 38★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 5,000 | 71,600★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 6.12★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 20 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 4.80B USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Maldives vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Maldives or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 123 times as many people as Maldives (65.49 million vs 531,553). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Maldives or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 47.2 times the size of Maldives's ($424.75 billion vs $8.99 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Maldives or South Africa?▾
Maldives is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $16,916 in Maldives vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).