Puerto Rico vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 127 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 20.3 times as many people as Puerto Rico (65.49 million vs 3.23 million). South Africa's economy is 3.1 times the size of Puerto Rico's ($424.75 billion vs $136.72 billion GDP).
Comparing Puerto Rico and South Africa: South Africa leads on Population Change (673,270 persons) against Puerto Rico (57.70 persons); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Puerto Rico (1,689 sq. km); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Puerto Rico (1,075). Across 127 compared metrics, Puerto Rico wins on 48 and South Africa wins on 63.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 52 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 27.99 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 87.29 %★ | 78.29 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 87.29 %★ | 75.46 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 87% (2022 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 27.99 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Radios | 2.7 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 1.02 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
52 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -5,210 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.75 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 18.83★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,132.63 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | population clusters tend to be found along the coast, with the largest of these in and around San Juan; an exception is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, parti | 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 | 6.22 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 6.6 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 7.1 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 2 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 24.95 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 80.55 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 1,689 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 8,870 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 501 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 220 | 16,700★ |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 62.79 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 78 municipalities ( municipios , singular - municipio ) are considered second-order: Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Ba | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 63 index | 44 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 63 index★ | 44 index | |
| Independence | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) | 31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 285 per 100,000★ | 286 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 63 | 44★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 98.94 %★ | 68.01 % | |
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 62.28★ | 98.21 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 10.9★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 81.9 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 81.9 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 11 %★ | 118 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 5.5 |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.9★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 20 | 573★ | |
| Heliports | 40 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 3.34B USD | 4.96B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Puerto Rico vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Puerto Rico or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 20.3 times as many people as Puerto Rico (65.49 million vs 3.23 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Puerto Rico or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 3.1 times the size of Puerto Rico's ($424.75 billion vs $136.72 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Puerto Rico or South Africa?▾
Puerto Rico is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $42,350 in Puerto Rico vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).