Papua New Guinea vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 160 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 6.0 times as many people as Papua New Guinea (65.49 million vs 10.95 million). South Africa's economy is 11.5 times the size of Papua New Guinea's ($424.75 billion vs $37.09 billion GDP).
Comparing Papua New Guinea and South Africa: Papua New Guinea leads on Major Urban Areas Population (410,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Papua New Guinea leads on Radios (410,000) against South Africa (17); Papua New Guinea leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (900,900) against South Africa (50.02). Across 160 compared metrics, Papua New Guinea wins on 55 and South Africa wins on 97.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 58 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 20 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.23 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 18.81 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 24.07 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 24% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.23 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 58.35 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 410,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 59,841★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 10,940 | NA |
Economy
58 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -12,308★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -3,750 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 24.08 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 5.8★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 4,152.24 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas | 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 | 3.7 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 3.7 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 211.6 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 801★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 51 species | 33 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.86 % | 1.94 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 176★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 14,050 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 452,860 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 5,152 km★ | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 34.23 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 20★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 31 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 31 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 16 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.39 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 60 per 100,000★ | 286 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 31★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
20 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 4,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.35 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 4,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.25 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 569 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | about 15 major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 3 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.60M USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 5 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Papua New Guinea vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Papua New Guinea or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 6.0 times as many people as Papua New Guinea (65.49 million vs 10.95 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Papua New Guinea or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 11.5 times the size of Papua New Guinea's ($424.75 billion vs $37.09 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Papua New Guinea or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $3,387 in Papua New Guinea (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).