San Marino vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 98 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 1,951 times as many people as San Marino (65.49 million vs 33,564). South Africa's economy is 182 times the size of San Marino's ($424.75 billion vs $2.33 billion GDP).

Comparing San Marino and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against San Marino (23 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against San Marino (60); South Africa leads on Population Change (673,270 persons) against San Marino (198.60 persons). Across 98 compared metrics, San Marino wins on 44 and South Africa wins on 39.

  • Communications: 8 metrics compared
  • Economy: 26 metrics compared
  • Environment: 2 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 5 metrics compared
  • Health: 18 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 29 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 2 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

8 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration35.79 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)97.35 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)87.03 %★75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 87% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed35.79 Mbps★3.12 Mbps
Radios16,000★17
Televisions9,000★6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

26 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars2.33B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)16.58 %★15.39 %
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)5.92 %10.38 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.1 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index97.5★59.6
Electricity ConsumptionNA (2000)181.2
Electricity Exports06.91★
Electricity Imports06.2★
Electricity ProductionNA195.6
Highest GDP per Capita Countries70,951.79 USD★13,695.38 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)10.7 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate2.3 %★3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)1.2 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)NA1.7 % of GDP
Number of AI Patents Filed1 patents6 patents★
Population Below Poverty LineNA55.5 people
Public Debt103.276.2★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)7.9 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends-1.6 %6.47 %★
Remittances1.2★0.2
Tax Burden (% of GDP)17.27 %★25.4 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)17.27 % of GDP25.4 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues17.826★
Top Exporting Countries3.77B USD126.84B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.89 %1.01 %★
Unemployment Rate8.1 %★27.99 %

Environment

2 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %87,566.02 %★
Total Threatened Mammal Species1 species★33 species

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization32.9 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)90.99★85.66
Agricultural land23 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km601.21M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km2,798 km★
Irrigated Land016,700★

Government

5 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country95.88 %★61.59 %
Administrative Divisions99
Independence331★
LGBT Rights Index Score1.0710.94★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

18 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water100 %★68.01 %
Change in Measles Immunization Rate85 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)8.6★7.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders85.82 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.21 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita5,890.4 USD★1,541.18 USD
Health Coverage Index Score74 score74 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy85.82 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density3.8 people/sq km★2.3 people/sq km
Low Birth Weight Prevalence4.24 %★16.64 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)8 %★118 %
Nurses and Midwives Density8.68 per 1,000 people★6.39 per 1,000 people
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending13.09 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA7.8
Total Number of Doctors4.66★0.79
Underweight Children Under 5NA5.5

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel74,000 personnel★

People and Society

29 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)43.49 %★33.25 %
Life expectancy at birth88.11 years★71.98 years
Median age of population49.16 years★29 years
Population Change198.6 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density543.56 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population33,564 persons65.49M persons★
Birth Rate (%)9.04 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate4.2 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)8.9 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.9 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age6,248.95 persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)48.19 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate35.79 %★3.12 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth100 male/female103.52 male/female★
Labor Force Participation Rate21,960★22.4
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population4,000 people★10.32 people
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio33.05 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization80.78 %★79.63 %
Physician Density4.63 people/sq km★0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.55 %1.06 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio6.27★32.94
Total deaths257.6 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total fertility rate1.18 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration265.6 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate1.3 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.42 %1.34 %★

Transportation

2 metrics
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Airports1573★
Heliports149★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇸🇲 San Marino🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita262.00M USD4.96B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About San Marino vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, San Marino or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 1,951 times as many people as San Marino (65.49 million vs 33,564). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, San Marino or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 182 times the size of San Marino's ($424.75 billion vs $2.33 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, San Marino or South Africa?▾

San Marino is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $69,395 in San Marino vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons