Nigeria vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 110 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Nigeria and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Nigeria (2.46); South Africa leads on Oil Exports (54,930) against Nigeria (2.10); Nigeria leads on Remittances (11.30) against South Africa (0.20). Across 110 compared metrics, Nigeria wins on 42 and South Africa wins on 60.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 39.21 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 39% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 46.81 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 23.5★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 6.9★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 8,575 | NA |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 6.45M | 3.23M★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 114.4★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Population Distribution | largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map | 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 | 87 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 286.2★ | 51.35 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 7.65 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 134.77★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 703,753 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 853 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 206.73 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 2,188 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 21.26 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 36★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 3 | 7.2★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.1 % of GDP | 8.3 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 1.3 %★ | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 0.53 people/sq km | 2.8 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 993 % | 118 %★ | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 20.3 | 22.5★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 8.9 %★ | 28.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 1.7★ | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 24.4 | 4.9★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 223,000★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.03 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 50 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 57 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 15 | 49★ |