Namibia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 106 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Namibia and South Africa: Namibia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (477,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Namibia (210,000); Namibia leads on Radios (232,000) against South Africa (17). Across 106 compared metrics, Namibia wins on 43 and South Africa wins on 55.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 28 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 64.41 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 64% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.35 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 232,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 60,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 26,448★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 3.46★ | 446.7 | |
| Population Distribution | population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map | 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 | 2.1 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 39.91 | 51.35★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.08 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 67.4 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 388,132 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 1,572 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 215.05 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 80 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 65.13 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 14★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 21 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 5.3 | 7.2★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 9.4 % of GDP★ | 8.3 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 11.8 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.7 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 139 % | 118 %★ | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 21.4 | 22.5★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 17.2 %★ | 28.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 210,000 | 7.8★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 13.2 | 5.5★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 16,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
28 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airports | 259 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | NA major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 1 | 49★ |