Nicaragua vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 109 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Nicaragua and South Africa: Nicaragua leads on Televisions (320,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Nicaragua (12,000); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Nicaragua (377). Across 109 compared metrics, Nicaragua wins on 41 and South Africa wins on 59.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 29 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 58.23 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 58% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 22.83 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 1.24 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 320,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,220 | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 202,047★ | 3.23M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 3.81★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | not specified; | 200 | |
| Population Distribution | the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters | 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 | 59 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 164.52★ | 51.35 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.3 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 91.02★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 51,008 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 910 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 4,510.25 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 1,990 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 8.26 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 15★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 15 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 16 | 18★ |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 90.92★ | 102.05 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 10.4★ | 7.2 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 9.7 % of GDP★ | 8.3 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.3 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 0.9 people/sq km | 2.3 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 60 %★ | 118 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 19.7 | 22.5★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 23.7 %★ | 28.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 12,000 | 7.8★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 4.6★ | 5.5 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 12,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
29 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.05 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 39 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 9 | 90★ |