Seychelles vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 162 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 485 times as many people as Seychelles (65.49 million vs 135,139). South Africa's economy is 154 times the size of Seychelles's ($424.75 billion vs $2.76 billion GDP).
Comparing Seychelles and South Africa: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Seychelles (15.50 sq. km); South Africa leads on Irrigated Land (16,700) against Seychelles (3); Seychelles leads on Major Urban Areas Population (28,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people). Across 162 compared metrics, Seychelles wins on 79 and South Africa wins on 71.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 57 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 31.6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 87.82 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 87.4 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 31.6 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 68.56 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 42,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 11,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
57 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 11,262★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -218 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.64 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 893,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Continental Shelf | edge of continental margin or 200 nm; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,243.48 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, 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 | 70.08 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 68.1 %★ | 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 | 7 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 12.99 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 172.81★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 15.5 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 460 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 491 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 7.23 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 3 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 68.93 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 27★ | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 72 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 72 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 29 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 3.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 392 per 100,000 | 260 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 72 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 0 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.24 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 0 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 7.2★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 16 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 6 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 1.02B USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 1.75 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Seychelles vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Seychelles or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 485 times as many people as Seychelles (65.49 million vs 135,139). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Seychelles or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 154 times the size of Seychelles's ($424.75 billion vs $2.76 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Seychelles or South Africa?▾
Seychelles is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $20,397 in Seychelles vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).