Netherlands vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 3.5 times as many people as Netherlands (65.49 million vs 18.46 million). Netherlands's economy is 3.1 times the size of South Africa's ($1.34 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Netherlands and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Netherlands (1.01); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against Netherlands (1.28); South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against Netherlands (2.58). Across 176 compared metrics, Netherlands wins on 104 and South Africa wins on 65.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 25 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 42.98 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 97.01 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 97.01 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 42.98 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 88.64 points★ | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 15.3 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 8.1★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 5,046 | NA |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -2.23M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 450 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 11.27 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 188.19★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 709.41 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country | 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 | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 23.02 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 22.9 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.5 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 91★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 4 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 21.23 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 55.13 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 17,883.7 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 33,670 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 451 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 502.73 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 2,969 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 92.54 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 12★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 78 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 78 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 26 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 11★ | 10.94 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 60 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 78 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 34,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.19 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 41,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.7★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 44 | 573★ | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 98★ | 90 | |
| Heliports | 194★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 22.56B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Netherlands vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Netherlands or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 3.5 times as many people as Netherlands (65.49 million vs 18.46 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Netherlands or South Africa?▾
Netherlands. Netherlands's economy is 3.1 times the size of South Africa's ($1.34 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Netherlands or South Africa?▾
Netherlands is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $72,304 in Netherlands vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).