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Nauru vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 128 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Nauru
nru
Leads on 52 of 128 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 64 of 128 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 5,410 times as many people as Nauru (65.49 million vs 12,105). South Africa's economy is 2,441 times the size of Nauru's ($424.75 billion vs $174.04 million GDP).

Comparing Nauru and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Nauru (4 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against Nauru (20); South Africa leads on Population Change (673,270 persons) against Nauru (65.90 persons). Across 128 compared metrics, Nauru wins on 52 and South Africa wins on 64.

  • Communications: 8 metrics compared
  • Economy: 43 metrics compared
  • Environment: 9 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 6 metrics compared
  • Health: 21 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 31 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 2 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

8 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration9.96 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)83.01 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)81.66 %★72.11 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 82% (2020 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed9.96 Mbps★3.12 Mbps
Radios7,000★17
Televisions500★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

43 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country3.98M $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars174.04M $424.75B $★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.6 % of GDP★8.3 % of GDP
Electricity Consumption22.32207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels86★85
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants01★
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables14★10
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity7,000★50.02
Electricity Production24234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)0 USD per capita98.47 USD per capita★
Gini Index Coefficient34.863★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries12,134.89 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.3 %★-0.15 %
Inflation Rate-0.12 %★5.74 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.6 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)NA1.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption05.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption1,300553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports1,044521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty LineNA55.5 people
Public Debt65★76.2
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.8 USD★0.6 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption470621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports449195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Remittances0.6★0.2
Tax Burden (% of GDP)21.42 %★25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)21.42 % of GDP25.88 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues44.4★26
Top Exporting Countries89.95M USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-3.48 %0.58 %★
Unemployment Rate23 %★33.56 %

Environment

9 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)2,685★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %87,566.02 %★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions86,000446.7★
Population Distributionmost people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coastthe 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 Adaptation0 sq km9.88 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage0 %9.6 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country0.01 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources1051.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species2 species★33 species

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization61.77 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)085.66★
Agricultural land4 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km201.21M★
Coastline Length (km)30 km2,798 km★
Irrigated Land016,700★

Government

6 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country56.37 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions14★9
Independence3131
LGBT Rights Index Score2.0710.94★
Prison Population Rate260 per 100,000★310 per 100,000
Suffrage Participation Rate20★18

Health

21 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water18.66 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults32.2 kg/m²★25 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate98 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)21.8★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders62.28 years66.31 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.52 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita3,533.9 USD★1,541.18 USD
Health Coverage Index Score62 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)13.1 % of GDP★8.3 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy62.28 years66.31 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density5 people/sq km★2.3 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita4.97 beds per 1,000★2.25 beds per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)273 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth22.122.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density7.3 per 1,000 people★1.2 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)61 %28.3 %★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending0.73 %★6.69 %
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA7.8
Total Number of Doctors1.27★0.76
Underweight Children Under 53.8★4.9

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel74,000 personnel★

People and Society

31 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)53.17 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.51★0.42
Life expectancy at birth64.62 years71.98 years★
Median age of population20.06 years29 years★
Population Change65.9 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density605.26 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population12,104.5 persons65.49M persons★
Beer Consumption per Capita0.01 liters3.87 liters★
Birth Rate (%)19.64 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate24.56 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.55 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)5.7 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age2,978.6 persons18.20M persons★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate9.96 %★3.12 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth106.85 male/female★103.52 male/female
Labor Force Participation RateNA22.4
Learning-adjusted years of school6.51 years★4.88 years
Mean Male Height (cm)167.83★166.68
Old-Age Dependency Ratio4.6 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization92.33 %★79.63 %
Physician Density1.27 people/sq km★0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.37 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums1 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio39.4532.77★
Total deaths91.6 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)44.39 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate3.2 per woman★2.17 per woman
Total net-migration-118.5 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate24.14 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.65 %1.34 %★

Transportation

2 metrics
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Airports1573★
Civil Air Travel390★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇳🇷 Nauru🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita930,114.44 USD5.96B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About Nauru vs South Africa

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

South Africa. South Africa has 5,410 times as many people as Nauru (65.49 million vs 12,105). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2,441 times the size of Nauru's ($424.75 billion vs $174.04 million GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Nauru is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $14,378 in Nauru vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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