Samoa vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 150 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 297 times as many people as Samoa (65.49 million vs 220,594). South Africa's economy is 330 times the size of Samoa's ($424.75 billion vs $1.29 billion GDP).
Comparing Samoa and South Africa: Samoa leads on Radios (174,849) against South Africa (17); Samoa leads on Major Urban Areas Population (36,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Samoa (436.50 sq. km). Across 150 compared metrics, Samoa wins on 61 and South Africa wins on 80.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 57 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 6 metrics compared
- Health: 20 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 34 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.88 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 21.2 % | 49 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 58.14 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 58% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.88 Mbps | 3.12 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 69.28 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 174,849★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 8,634★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
57 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 10,742★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -480 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.42 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 335,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 3,284.19 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu | 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 | 7.76 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 7.9 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 0 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 2 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 5.83 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 105★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 436.5 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 2,780 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 403 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 44.65 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
6 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 75.45 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 11★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 1 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 1.71 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 250 per 100,000★ | 288 per 100,000 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 21★ | 18 |
Health
20 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 62.5 % | 68.01 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 30.4 kg/m²★ | 25 kg/m² | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 85 %★ | 76 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 25.4★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 71.83 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.84 per 1,000 births★ | 1.87 per 1,000 births | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 544.9 USD | 1,541.18 USD★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 62 score | 74 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.8 % of GDP | 8.3 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 71.83 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 1 people/sq km | 2.8 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 101 %★ | 118 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 23.6★ | 22.5 | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 3.06 per 1,000 people★ | 1.01 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 47.3 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| Out-of-Pocket Health Spending | 13.42 % | 6.69 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 0.56 | 0.78★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 3.4★ | 4.9 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ |
People and Society
34 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 4 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 3 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 232.74M USD | 6.72B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 2.95 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Samoa vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Samoa or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 297 times as many people as Samoa (65.49 million vs 220,594). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Samoa or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 330 times the size of Samoa's ($424.75 billion vs $1.29 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Samoa or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $5,836 in Samoa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).