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Myanmar vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 168 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Myanmar
mmr
Leads on 51 of 168 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 109 of 168 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 19% more people than Myanmar (65.49 million vs 55.2 million). South Africa's economy is 6.4 times the size of Myanmar's ($424.75 billion vs $65.9 billion GDP).

Comparing Myanmar and South Africa: Myanmar leads on Televisions (320,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Myanmar (240,000); South Africa leads on Coal Revenue (2.40) against Myanmar (0.01). Across 168 compared metrics, Myanmar wins on 51 and South Africa wins on 109.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 60 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration2.87 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)45.45 %72.11 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)58.54 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 59% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed2.87 Mbps5.35 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score25.32 points75.71 points★
Radios4.217★
Televisions320,000★6
Waterways12,800NA

Economy

60 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country15.62B $★14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars65.90B $424.75B $★
Apple Import Volume3.79M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate47.79 %85.38 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)9.95 %★5.75 %
Coal Revenue0.012.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)13 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.8 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index89.3★59.6
Electricity Consumption14.93207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3985★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants61★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables110★
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity5.2150.02★
Electricity Production17.32234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)8.38 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate45.32 %55.4 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage7.53 %9.52 %★
Gender Wage Gap7.53 %★9.52 %
Gini Index Coefficient30.763★
Gross Fixed Investment16.319.5★
Gross National Saving17.7★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage8.23 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries5,137.1 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.2 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate8.83 %4.1 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)8.8 %4.4 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)3.9 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption4.55.07★
Natural Gas Exports14.07★0
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production18.41906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves637.1★0
Oil Consumption37,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports19,700521,400★
Oil Production21,120192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves50★15
Population Below Poverty Line24.8 people★55.5 people
Public Debt35.7★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.04 %0.61 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)-1 USD0.6 USD★
Real Interest Rate Trends9.01 %★2.2 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption123,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports102,600195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production13,330487,100★
Remittances1.6★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million26.4 researchers444.16 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.04 USD0.61 USD★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)6.02 %★24.87 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)6.02 % of GDP24.87 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues626★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.48 %★0.58 %
Unemployment Rate3.1 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.09 %★55.58 %
Youth Unemployment Rate9.81 %★59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)-189,532★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-289,712.12 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature24.03 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions27.01★446.7
Continental Shelfedge of continental margin or 200 nm;200
Global Precipitation Distribution2,469.04 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributionpopulation concentrated along coastal areas and in general proximity to the shores of the Irrawaddy River; the extreme north is relatively underpopulatedthe 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 Adaptation6.68 sq km9.88 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage6.7 %9.6 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country453.7 Cubic meters per year★4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources1.1751.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species54 species33 species★

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization2.17 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)125.54★85.66
Agricultural land128,889.4 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km652,6701.21M★
Coastline Length (km)1,930 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita280.65 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land17,140★16,700

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country-1.87 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions79★
Corruption Perception Index16 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score16 index41 index★
Independence431★
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.4310.94★
Prison Population Rate183 per 100,000★259 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception16★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water59.72 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults22.2 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate71 %76 %★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)6.77.2★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders67.1 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.28 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita323.34 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score52 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.6 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy67.1 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.8 %★18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita0.87 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence12.48 %★16.64 %
Malaria Incidence Rate14.78 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)185 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth22.8★22.5
Nurses and Midwives Density0.21 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)5.8 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending71.13 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS240,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors0.760.78★
Underweight Children Under 519.54.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel356,000 personnel★74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)6.6 %0.76 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)463,000★89,000

People and Society

39 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)57.35 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.5★0.42
Life expectancy at birth71.17 years71.98 years★
Median age of population30.39 years★29 years
Population Change346,246.1 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density84.54 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population55.20M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.020.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita0.45 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)15.44 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate52.2 %54.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate16.46 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)7.17 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age14.52M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)24.37 %26.52 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate2.87 %5.35 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.01 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.320.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate22.7427.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school6.98 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population5.61 people10.32 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)164.67166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling6.48 years10.47 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.36 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization69.4 %79.63 %★
Physician Density0.76 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate0.69 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums63.09 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio27.56★32.77
Total deaths495,487.8 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)42.67 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate2.06 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-40,069.3 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate39.88 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.08 %1.34 %★

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.10.37★
Airports74573★
Civil Air Travel1790★
Heliports649★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇲🇲 Myanmar🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita2.50B USD9.06B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About Myanmar vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Myanmar or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 19% more people than Myanmar (65.49 million vs 55.2 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Myanmar or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 6.4 times the size of Myanmar's ($424.75 billion vs $65.9 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Myanmar or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,194 in Myanmar (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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