Rwanda vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 4.4 times as many people as Rwanda (65.49 million vs 14.88 million). South Africa's economy is 24.7 times the size of Rwanda's ($424.75 billion vs $17.19 billion GDP).
Comparing Rwanda and South Africa: Rwanda leads on Radios (601,000) against South Africa (17); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Rwanda (220,000); Rwanda leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (191,000) against South Africa (50.02). Across 170 compared metrics, Rwanda wins on 58 and South Africa wins on 104.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 64 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 39 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 31.7 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 34.2 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 34% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.6 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 35.84 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 601,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997) | 6 | |
| Waterways | note: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft | NA |
Economy
64 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 17,535★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 14,560 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 20.12 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.65★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,415.68 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, 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 | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.1 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.1 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 7 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 13.3 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 24 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 60.08 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 146.06★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 20,490.02 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 24,670 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 0 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 96 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 58.22 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 4 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 57 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 57 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.93 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 545 per 100,000 | 259 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 57 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 33,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.29 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 35,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
39 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 50.33 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Human Capital Index | 0.39 | 0.42★ | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 70.82 years | 71.98 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 20.15 years | 29 years★ | |
| Population Change | 325,380.5 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 614.1 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 14.88M persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.1 | 0.83★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 1.71 liters | 3.65 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 25.05 %★ | 17.21 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 64.1 %★ | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 28.06 per 1,000 people★ | 18.48 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 4.87 %★ | 6.56 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.7 % of GDP | 6 % of GDP★ | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 3.93M persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 7.74 % | 29.84 %★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 0.6 % | 5.35 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 102.08 male/female | 103.52 male/female★ | |
| Human Development Index | 0.22 | 0.48★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 5.67 | 27.77★ | |
| Learning-adjusted years of school | 4.26 years | 4.88 years★ | |
| Length of paid parental leave for mother | 0 days | 0 days | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 1.25 people | 10.32 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 162.68 | 166.68★ | |
| Mean Years of Schooling | 5.24 years | 10.47 years★ | |
| Military Service Age and Obligation | typically 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (including officer candidates and those with university degrees and specialized qualifications); enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career profession | 18 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 6.54 %★ | 9.65 % | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 94.47 %★ | 79.63 % | |
| Physician Density | 0.09 people/sq km | 0.79 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 2 %★ | 1.06 % | |
| Population living in slums | 32.19 %★ | 23.64 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 58.34 | 30.33★ | |
| Total deaths | 85,584.6 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 48.63 % | 62.02 %★ | |
| Total fertility rate | 3.52 per woman★ | 2.17 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | 4,931.3 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 32.92 per live births | 28.89 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 5.55 %★ | 1.34 % | |
| Voting Age Population | 117.03 millions★ | 39.64 millions |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.04 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 8 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 2 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 710.58M USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 6.75 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rwanda vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Rwanda or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 4.4 times as many people as Rwanda (65.49 million vs 14.88 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Rwanda or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 24.7 times the size of Rwanda's ($424.75 billion vs $17.19 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Rwanda or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,155 in Rwanda (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).