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Philippines vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 178 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Philippines
phl
Leads on 88 of 178 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 81 of 178 metrics

Summary

Philippines has 80% more people than South Africa (117.73 million vs 65.49 million). Philippines's economy is 20% larger than South Africa's ($508.85 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing Philippines and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Philippines (120,000); Philippines leads on Apple Import Volume (135.06 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on Natural Gas Production (906.10) against Philippines (3.06). Across 178 compared metrics, Philippines wins on 88 and South Africa wins on 81.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 67 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 41 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration7.14 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)67.26 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)83.77 %★75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 84% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed7.14 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score49.57 points75.71 points★
Radios11.517★
Televisions3.76★
Waterways3,219NA

Economy

67 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country46.40B $★14.21B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars508.85B $★424.75B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)23.68 %★14.07 %
Apple Import Volume135.06M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate50.18 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3.56 %5.75 %★
Coal Revenue0.072.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)5.63 %10.38 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index71.3★59.6
Electricity Consumption78.3207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels6785★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants17★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables16★10
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity22.1350.02★
Electricity Production86.59234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)17.65 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate52.77 %55.4 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-16.33 %9.52 %★
Gender Wage Gap-16.33 %★9.52 %
Gini Index Coefficient40.763★
Gross Fixed Investment19.7★19.5
Gross National Saving24.3★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage80.02 %★45.27 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries10,747.55 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)5.6 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate1.66 %★3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.2 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.7 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption3.145.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production3.06906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves98.54★0
Number of AI Patents Filed49 patents★22 patents
Oil Consumption310,000553,000★
Oil Exports60,460★54,930
Oil Imports338,400521,400★
Oil Production33,110192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves138.5★15
Population Below Poverty Line18.1 people★55.5 people
Public Debt39.9★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.28 %0.6 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.7 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends6.35 %★5.27 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption424,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports26,710105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports211,400★195,200
Refined Petroleum Products Production215,500487,100★
Remittances8.7★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million320.28 researchers459.99 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.28 USD0.6 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)28.79★47.91
Tax Burden (% of GDP)14.37 %★25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)14.37 % of GDP25.88 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues14.126★
Top Exporting Countries118.97B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.6 %★-0.51 %
Total Number of Billionaires15★7
Tourism Contribution to GDP6.41 %★3.54 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)6.41 %★3.54 %
Unemployment Rate2.2 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate61.35 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate7.04 %★59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)13.90M3.23M★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate42,450 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature26.32 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions156.23★446.7
Continental Shelfto depth of exploitation;200
Global Precipitation Distribution3,682.55 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributionpopulation concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the nthe 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 Adaptation16.03 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage16 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country180 Cubic meters per year★4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources479★51.35
Total Threatened Mammal Species42 species33 species★

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization18.72 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)219.77★85.66
Agricultural land127,070.8 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km298,1701.21M★
Coastline Length (km)36,289 km★2,798 km
Dam capacity per capita59.66 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land16,27016,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country41.02 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions81★9
Corruption Perception Index33 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score33 index41 index★
Independence431★
LGBT Rights Index Score3.0710.94★
Prison Population Rate179 per 100,000★286 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception33★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water48.48 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults22.8 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate80 %★76 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)54.45★89.28
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.5★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders69.95 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.17 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita718.96 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score69 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.1 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy69.95 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.2 %★18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density1 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita1.02 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence21.14 %16.64 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate0.35 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)84 %★118 %
Mean Age at First Birth23.1★22.5
Nurses and Midwives Density4.78 per 1,000 people★1.01 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)6.4 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending44.36 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS120,0007.8★
Total Number of Doctors0.79★0.78
Underweight Children Under 516.74.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel145,000 personnel★74,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.3 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)157,000★89,000

People and Society

41 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)54.6 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.420.42★
Life expectancy at birth74.41 years★71.98 years
Median age of population26.55 years29 years★
Population Change995,131.2 persons★673,269.7 persons
Population density392.31 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population117.73M persons★65.49M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.590.83★
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA★A
Beer Consumption per Capita1.01 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)16.02 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.1 %54.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate15.89 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)5.8 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.6 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age32.33M persons★18.20M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)50.95 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate7.14 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth107.5 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.390.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate50.98★27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school5.68 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population14.67 people★10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)163.23166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling9.44 years10.47 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age20★18
Military Service Age and Obligationsome variations in age based on the branch of service, but generally 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) note: as of 2023, women made up about 8% of the active military; women have attended the Phili18
Old-Age Dependency Ratio7.96 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization85.3 %★79.63 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.74 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums33.41 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio30.27★30.33
Total deaths682,198.6 persons540,582.7 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)41.95 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate1.86 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-176,245.9 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate25.58 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.39 %★1.34 %
Voting Age Population71.91 millions★47.28 millions

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.4★0.37
Airports256573★
Civil Air Travel5390★
Heliports416★49

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita11.19B USD★6.72B USD

Other

1 metric
Metric🇵🇭 Philippines🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate4.75 %7 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About Philippines vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Philippines or South Africa?▾

Philippines. Philippines has 80% more people than South Africa (117.73 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Philippines or South Africa?▾

Philippines. Philippines's economy is 20% larger than South Africa's ($508.85 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Philippines or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $4,322 in Philippines (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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