Nicaragua vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 9.2 times as many people as Nicaragua (65.49 million vs 7.1 million). South Africa's economy is 18.4 times the size of Nicaragua's ($424.75 billion vs $23.03 billion GDP).
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 170 compared metrics, Nicaragua wins on 71 and South Africa wins on 90.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 63 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 39 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.78 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 61.4 % | 78.36 %ā | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 58.23 % | 75.66 %ā | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 58% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.78 Mbpsā | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 22.83 points | 75.71 pointsā | |
| Radios | 1.24 | 17ā | |
| Televisions | 320,000ā | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,220 | NA |
Economy
63 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | 202,047ā | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -22,125.98 % | 87,566.02 %ā | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.95 Ā°Cā | 18.35 Ā°C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 3.81ā | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | not specified; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,915.23 mmā | 652.17 mm | |
| 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 | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 21.17 sq kmā | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 21.2 %ā | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 59 Cubic meters per yearā | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 164.52ā | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 9 speciesā | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.3 % | 1.94 %ā | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 91.02ā | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 51,008 sq. km | 963,410 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,340 | 1.21Mā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 910 km | 2,798 kmā | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 4,510.25 cubic meters per inhabitantā | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 1,990 | 16,700ā |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 8.26 % | 61.59 %ā | |
| Administrative Divisions | 15ā | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 14 indexā | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 14 index | 41 indexā | |
| Independence | 15 | 31ā | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 3.07 | 10.94ā | |
| Prison Population Rate | 332 per 100,000 | 286 per 100,000ā | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 14ā | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 16 | 18ā |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 12,000 personnel | 74,000 personnelā | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.56 %ā | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 12,000 | 89,000ā |
People and Society
39 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.05 | 0.37ā | |
| Airports | 39 | 573ā | |
| Civil Air Travel | 9 | 90ā |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 510.90M USD | 6.72B USDā |
Other
1 metric| Metric | š³š® Nicaragua | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 6 % | 7 %ā |
Frequently Asked Questions About Nicaragua vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Nicaragua or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa. South Africa has 9.2 times as many people as Nicaragua (65.49 million vs 7.1 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Nicaragua or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 18.4 times the size of Nicaragua's ($424.75 billion vs $23.03 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Nicaragua or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $3,244 in Nicaragua (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).