South Africa vs South Korea: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 111 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing South Africa and South Korea: South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against South Korea (2.25); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against South Korea (2.58); South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against South Korea (3.07). Across 111 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 38 and South Korea wins on 62.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 97.42 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 64.06 points | |
| Radios | 17 | 47.5★ | |
| Televisions | 6 | 15.9★ | |
| Waterways | NA | 1,609 |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | -5.50M★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7★ | 644.23 | |
| Population Distribution | 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 | the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northea | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 13.3 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 69.7★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 11.86 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 131.69★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 15,174 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 2,413 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 362.21 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 7,780 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 % | 85.98 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 9 | |
| Independence | 31★ | 15 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 102.05 | 9.92★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.2 | 9.6★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.3 % of GDP | 9.7 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 18.3 % | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.3 people/sq km | 12.3 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 118 % | 4 %★ | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 22.5 | 30.3★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 28.3 % | 4.7 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 7.8 | NA | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 4.9 | 0.4★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 569,000★ |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 1.32★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 92 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | 93★ | |
| Heliports | 49 | 1,280★ |