Mexico vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 175 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Mexico has 2.0 times as many people as South Africa (133.03 million vs 65.49 million). Mexico's economy is 5.4 times the size of South Africa's ($2.29 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Mexico and South Africa: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Mexico (1.98); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Mexico (2.07); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Mexico (2.98). Across 175 compared metrics, Mexico wins on 103 and South Africa wins on 62.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 69 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 39 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 83.12 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 81.18 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 81% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 21.74 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 45.55 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 31★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 25.6★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,900 | NA |
Economy
69 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.73M★ | 3.23M | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 21.68 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 441.05★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | natural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 809.08 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | most of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City | 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 | 15.55 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 150 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 461.89★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 97 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.86 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 52.44 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 1.04M sq. km★ | 963,410 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.94M★ | 1.21M | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 9,330 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,145.45 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 59,910★ | 16,700 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 17.92 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 32★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 26 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 26 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 16 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 6.13 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 188 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 26★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 341,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
39 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.48★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 1,580★ | 573 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 186★ | 90 | |
| Heliports | 488★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 36.24B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 6.5 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Mexico or South Africa?▾
Mexico. Mexico has 2.0 times as many people as South Africa (133.03 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Mexico or South Africa?▾
Mexico. Mexico's economy is 5.4 times the size of South Africa's ($2.29 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Mexico or South Africa?▾
Mexico is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $17,235 in Mexico vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).