Northern Mariana Islands vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 70 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 1,530 times as many people as Northern Mariana Islands (65.49 million vs 42,804). South Africa's economy is 638 times the size of Northern Mariana Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $666.2 million GDP).
Comparing Northern Mariana Islands and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Northern Mariana Islands (5.40 sq. km); South Africa leads on Irrigated Land (16,700) against Northern Mariana Islands (1); Northern Mariana Islands leads on Major Urban Areas Population (51,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people). Across 70 compared metrics, Northern Mariana Islands wins on 24 and South Africa wins on 29.
- Communications: 4 metrics compared
- Economy: 16 metrics compared
- Environment: 7 metrics compared
- Geography: 5 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 6 metrics compared
- People and Society: 26 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
Communications
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users | percent of population: 25.1% (2021 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Radios | NA | 17 | |
| Televisions | NA | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
16 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars | 666.20M $ | 424.75B $★ | |
| Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | NA | 8.3 % of GDP | |
| Electricity Consumption | 48,300★ | 207.1 | |
| Electricity Exports | 0 | 16.55★ | |
| Electricity Imports | 0 | 10.56★ | |
| Electricity Production | 60,600★ | 234.5 | |
| Energy Consumption per Capita (USD) | 0 USD per capita | 98.47 USD per capita★ | |
| Industrial Production Growth Rate (%) | 4.3 %★ | -0.15 % | |
| Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices) | 0.3 %★ | 6.07 % | |
| Population Below Poverty Line | NA | 55.5 people | |
| Private Investment (% of GDP) | 10.68 % of GDP | 11.71 % of GDP★ | |
| Public Debt | 7.1★ | 76.55 | |
| Real GDP Growth Rate (USD) | 16.6 USD★ | 0.6 USD | |
| Taxes and Other Revenues | 31.4★ | 26.11 | |
| Top Exporting Countries | 244.00M USD | 136.71B USD★ | |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.2 %★ | 33.56 % |
Environment
7 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 0★ | 476.99 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Population Distribution | approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan | 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 | 0.35 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.8 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 3 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
5 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 5.17 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Agricultural land | 5.4 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 460 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 1,482 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 1 | 16,700★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Divisions | no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 municipalities are considered second-order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian | 9 | |
| Independence | none (commonwealth in political union with the US) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 319 per 100,000 | 288 per 100,000★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
6 metrics| Metric | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 81.45 %★ | 68.01 % | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 78.95 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 78.95 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
26 metricsTransportation
2 metricsFrequently Asked Questions About Northern Mariana Islands vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Northern Mariana Islands or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 1,530 times as many people as Northern Mariana Islands (65.49 million vs 42,804). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Northern Mariana Islands or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 638 times the size of Northern Mariana Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $666.2 million GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Northern Mariana Islands or South Africa?▾
Northern Mariana Islands is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $15,564 in Northern Mariana Islands vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).