Singapore 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 11.1 times as many people as Singapore (65.49 million vs 5.91 million). Singapore's economy is 54% larger than South Africa's ($655.64 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Singapore and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Singapore (1.08); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Singapore (1.32); South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against Singapore (2.05). Across 170 compared metrics, Singapore wins on 81 and South Africa wins on 79.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 27.81 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 94.38 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 94.29 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 94% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 27.81 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 45.78 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 2.6 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 1.33 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 2.85M★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -134 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 238.96★ | 446.7 | |
| Population Distribution | most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas | 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 | 4.3 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 4.6 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 600★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 17 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 49.48 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 135.71★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 6.6 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 718 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 193 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 13.45 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 99.12 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019) | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 84 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 84 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 9 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | -0.21 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 185 per 100,000★ | 259 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 84 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 21★ | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 51,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.05 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 59,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 4.21★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 9 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 38 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 1 | 49★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 23.85B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 2.5 % | 7 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Singapore vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Singapore or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 11.1 times as many people as Singapore (65.49 million vs 5.91 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Singapore or South Africa?▾
Singapore. Singapore's economy is 54% larger than South Africa's ($655.64 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Singapore or South Africa?▾
Singapore is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $110,953 in Singapore vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).