Mexico vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
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 112 compared metrics, Mexico wins on 62 and South Africa wins on 40.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 45.55 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 31★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 25.6★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,900 | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.73M★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 441.05★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | natural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm; | 200 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Geography
6 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 | |
| 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
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 17.92 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 32★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 16 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 130.61 | 102.05★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 16.4★ | 7.2 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.1 % of GDP | 8.3 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.4 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 1.5 people/sq km | 2.3 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 42 %★ | 118 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 21.3 | 22.5★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 28.9 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 340,000 | 7.8★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 4.2★ | 4.9 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 341,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
30 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 |