Sierra Leone 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 7.3 times as many people as Sierra Leone (65.49 million vs 9 million). South Africa's economy is 62.5 times the size of Sierra Leone's ($424.75 billion vs $6.8 billion GDP).
Comparing Sierra Leone and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Sierra Leone (80,000); Sierra Leone leads on Televisions (53,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Sierra Leone (25). Across 162 compared metrics, Sierra Leone wins on 53 and South Africa wins on 99.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 58 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 37 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 2.76 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 25.1 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 20.64 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 21% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0 Mbps | 2.76 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 66.36 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 1.12 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 53,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | 800 | NA |
Economy
58 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 53,848★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -19,725.98 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 26.31 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.34★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 2,951.49 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on 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 | 12.57 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 12.6 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 25 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 160★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 26 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.95 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 82 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 39,490 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 72,180 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 402 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 24.01 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 300 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 22.07 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 4 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 33 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 33 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 27 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.39 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 47 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 33★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 9,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.37 %★ | 0.74 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 9,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
37 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.02 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 8 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | no major transport aircraft | 90 | |
| Heliports | 3 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 19.77M USD | 5.96B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 16.75 %★ | 7 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Sierra Leone vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Sierra Leone or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 7.3 times as many people as Sierra Leone (65.49 million vs 9 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Sierra Leone or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 62.5 times the size of Sierra Leone's ($424.75 billion vs $6.8 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Sierra Leone or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $755.59 in Sierra Leone (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).