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Slovakia vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Slovakia
svk
Leads on 82 of 176 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 82 of 176 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 12.0 times as many people as Slovakia (65.49 million vs 5.44 million). South Africa's economy is 2.7 times the size of Slovakia's ($424.75 billion vs $155.5 billion GDP).

Comparing Slovakia and South Africa: Slovakia leads on Major Urban Areas Population (441,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Slovakia leads on Apple Import Volume (42.54 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on Population living in slums (23.64 %) against Slovakia (0.07 %). Across 176 compared metrics, Slovakia wins on 82 and South Africa wins on 82.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 67 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration33.81 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)89.83 %★78.36 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)87.21 %★75.66 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 90% (2024 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed33.81 Mbps★5.35 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score71.93 points75.71 points★
Radios3.1217★
Televisions2.626★
Waterways172NA

Economy

67 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country2.63B $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars155.50B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)20.13 %★14.07 %
Apple Import Volume42.54M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate92.22 %★81.13 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0 %5.75 %★
Coal Revenue0.012.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)2.44 %10.38 %★
Corporate Tax Rate Trends21 %28 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.7 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index100★59.6
Electricity Consumption26.64207.1★
Electricity Exports10.616.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3685★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants24★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels27★4
Electricity from Other Renewables13★10
Electricity Imports13.25★10.56
Electricity Installed Capacity7.6450.02★
Electricity Production25.32234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)127.58 USD per capita★86.2 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate72.64 %★55.4 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage16.85 %★9.52 %
Gender Wage Gap16.85 %9.52 %★
Gini Index Coefficient24.163★
Gross Fixed Investment22.2★19.5
Gross National Saving20.6★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage69.91 %★45.27 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries40,689.82 USD★13,592.05 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)0.3 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate4 %3.21 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.8 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption4.675.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports4.98★4.16
Natural Gas Production104.8906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves14.16★0
Number of AI Patents Filed9 patents22 patents★
Oil Consumption83,810553,000★
Oil Exports78,940★54,930
Oil Imports139,200521,400★
Oil Production8,281192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves915★
Population Below Poverty Line13.7 people★55.5 people
Public Debt64.3★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.98 %★0.61 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2.1 USD★0.6 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption85,880621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports81,100105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports38,340195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production131,300487,100★
Remittances1.9★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million3,387.47 researchers★444.16 researchers
Robotics Research Funding0.98 USD★0.61 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.89★31.21
Tax Burden (% of GDP)19.14 %★25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)19.14 % of GDP25.88 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues19.426★
Top Exporting Countries120.48B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.33 %★-0.51 %
Total Number of Billionaires27★
Tourism Contribution to GDP2 %3.54 %★
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2 %3.54 %★
Unemployment Rate5.3 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate60.42 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate18.43 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)-1.68M★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate1,854 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature9.46 °C18.35 °C★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions30.09★446.7
Global Precipitation Distribution770.35 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributiona fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech borderthe 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 Adaptation37.47 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage37.5 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country1.73 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources50.151.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species5 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.61 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)171.11★85.66
Agricultural land18,070 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km48,0801.21M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita314.85 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land25916,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country68.7 %★61.59 %
Administrative Divisions89★
Corruption Perception Index49 index41 index★
Corruption Perceptions Index Score49 index★41 index
Independence131★
LGBT Rights Index Score3.9410.94★
Prison Population Rate149 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception4941★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water99.57 %★68.01 %
Average BMI for Adults27.3 kg/m²★25 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate94 %★76 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)9.36★102.05
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.17.2★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders78.37 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.35 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita4,045.88 USD★1,541.18 USD
Health Coverage Index Score78 score★74 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)7.8 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy78.37 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) <0.1%18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density5.8 people/sq km★2.3 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita6.46 beds per 1,000★2.25 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence7.82 %★16.64 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)4 %★118 %
Mean Age at First Birth27.8★22.5
Nurses and Midwives Density6.01 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)20.5 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending20.15 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS1,2007.8★
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)5.82 %★4.08 %
Total Number of Doctors3.7★0.79
Underweight Children Under 5NA5.5

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel18,000 personnel74,000 personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.03 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)18,00089,000★

People and Society

40 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)47.43 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.67★0.42
Life expectancy at birth83.35 years★71.98 years
Median age of population42.65 years★29 years
Population Change-41,056.4 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density112.42 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population5.44M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.810.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita2.85 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)9.77 %17.21 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate8.5 per 1,000 people18.48 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)11.18 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4.7 % of GDP6 % of GDP★
Female population of reproductive age1.21M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)63.11 %★29.84 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate33.81 %★5.35 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.34 male/female★103.52 male/female
Human Development Index0.69★0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate2.7827.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school9.82 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population441,000 people★10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)179.5★166.68
Mean Years of Schooling13.14 years★10.47 years
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligationminimum age is 18 for voluntary service for men and women; citizens 18-65 can volunteer for the military reserves (2026)18
Old-Age Dependency Ratio27.32 %9.65 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization53.81 %79.63 %★
Physician Density3.7 people/sq km★0.79 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate-0.07 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums0.07 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio15.25★30.33
Total deaths48,191.9 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)59.53 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate1.54 per woman2.17 per woman★
Total net-migration-40,591.1 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate4.35 per live births★28.89 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.15 %1.34 %★
Voting Age Population49.89 millions★39.64 millions

Transportation

5 metrics
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.290.37★
Airports116573★
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel4790★
Heliports249★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇸🇰 Slovakia🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita1.85B USD6.72B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About Slovakia vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Slovakia or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 12.0 times as many people as Slovakia (65.49 million vs 5.44 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Slovakia or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2.7 times the size of Slovakia's ($424.75 billion vs $155.5 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Slovakia or South Africa?▾

Slovakia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $28,568 in Slovakia vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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