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Nepal vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Nepal
npl
Leads on 63 of 169 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 97 of 169 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 2.2 times as many people as Nepal (65.49 million vs 29.59 million). South Africa's economy is 8.8 times the size of Nepal's ($424.75 billion vs $48.33 billion GDP).

Comparing Nepal and South Africa: Nepal leads on Radios (840,000) against South Africa (17); Nepal leads on Televisions (130,000) against South Africa (6); Nepal leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (943,100) against South Africa (50.02). Across 169 compared metrics, Nepal wins on 63 and South Africa wins on 97.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 62 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 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🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration10.07 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)46.32 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)55.77 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 56% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed10.07 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score55.2 points75.71 points★
Radios840,000★17
Televisions130,000★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

62 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country9.52B $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars48.33B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)30.4 %★14.07 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate59.99 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)7 %★5.75 %
Coal Revenue02.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.3 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.8 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index81.7★59.6
Electricity Consumption4.98207.1★
Electricity Exports2.6916.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels585★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants92★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables310★
Electricity Imports2.1810.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity943,100★50.02
Electricity Production4.24234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)6.6 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate29.55 %55.4 %★
Gini Index Coefficient32.863★
Gross Fixed Investment3.519.6★
Gross National Saving45.4★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage6.25 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries5,276.92 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)0.1 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate2.65 %★3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)7.1 %4.4 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption05.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption20,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports13,740521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line25.2 people★55.5 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)15.56 % of GDP★11.46 % of GDP
Public Debt39.9★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.3 %0.66 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)3.7 USD★0.6 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption27,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports26,120195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Remittances33.1★0.2
Robotics Research Funding0.3 USD0.66 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)21.5★29.54
Tax Burden (% of GDP)13.94 %★25.4 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)13.94 % of GDP25.4 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues17.526★
Top Exporting Countries3.27B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.13 %0.58 %★
Total Number of Billionaires27★
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.6 %2.26 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.6 %2.26 %★
Unemployment Rate10.8 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate39.24 %★55.58 %
Youth Unemployment Rate20.56 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)428,262★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate16,579.98 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature14.13 °C18.35 °C★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions11.36★446.7
Global Precipitation Distribution2,130.91 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributionmost of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is lowthe 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 Adaptation23.6 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.6 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country20 Cubic meters per year★4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources210.2★51.35
Total Threatened Mammal Species30 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization13.07 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)176.82★85.66
Agricultural land36,185.52 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km143,3501.21M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita2.68 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land12,09016,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country40.77 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions79★
Corruption Perception Index34 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score34 index41 index★
Independence176★31
LGBT Rights Index Score4.9410.94★
Prison Population Rate93 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception34★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water16.49 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults22.5 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate97 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.7★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders70.64 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.35 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita464.47 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score58 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy70.64 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.1 %★18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density0.3 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita0.25 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence19.73 %16.64 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate0.01 cases per 1,000★0.74 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)142 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth20.122.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density3.36 per 1,000 people★1.01 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)4.1 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending59.39 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS30,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People1 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors0.88★0.78
Underweight Children Under 518.34.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel97,000 personnel★74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.97 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)112,000★89,000

People and Society

39 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)75.46 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.52★0.42
Life expectancy at birth73.26 years★71.98 years
Median age of population25.67 years29 years★
Population Change-239,662.7 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density201.77 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population29.59M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.830.83
Beer Consumption per Capita0.34 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)16.66 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate46.7 %54.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate18.96 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.62 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.7 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age8.63M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)20.79 %29.84 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate10.07 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.64 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.330.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate8.4427.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school7.88 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.57 people10.32 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)162.32166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling6.19 years10.47 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age1718★
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.8 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization73.42 %79.63 %★
Physician Density1.01 people/sq km★0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.66 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums35.73 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio23.1★30.33
Total deaths198,194.4 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)58.71 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate1.92 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-588,424.9 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate22.16 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.23 %1.34 %★

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.160.37★
Airports51573★
Civil Air Travel590★
Heliports1449★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇳🇵 Nepal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita861.07M USD6.72B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About Nepal vs South Africa

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

South Africa. South Africa has 2.2 times as many people as Nepal (65.49 million vs 29.59 million). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 8.8 times the size of Nepal's ($424.75 billion vs $48.33 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,634 in Nepal (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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