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South Africa vs South Sudan: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 133 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

South Africa
zaf
Leads on 89 of 133 metrics
South Sudan
ssd
Leads on 36 of 133 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 5.3 times as many people as South Sudan (65.49 million vs 12.43 million). South Africa's economy is 45.6 times the size of South Sudan's ($424.75 billion vs $9.32 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and South Sudan: South Sudan leads on Major Urban Areas Population (459,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against South Sudan (180,000); South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against South Sudan (254.08 cases per 1,000). Across 133 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 89 and South Sudan wins on 36.

  • Communications: 6 metrics compared
  • Economy: 44 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 5 metrics compared
  • Government: 8 metrics compared
  • Health: 18 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 33 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration3.41 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)69.7 %★6.67 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)72.11 %★9.27 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 9% (2022 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed3.41 Mbps★0 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points★51.63 points

Economy

44 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $★175.53M $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $★9.32B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)18.63 %★5.75 %
Bank Account Ownership Rate85.38 %★5.83 %
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.38 %13.38 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★6.4 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index59.6★26.2
Electricity Consumption207.1391.8★
Electricity Exports16.55★0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels85100★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1★0
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels4★0
Electricity from Other Renewables10★1
Electricity Imports10.56★0
Electricity Installed Capacity50.0280,400★
Electricity Production234.5412.8★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)86.2 USD per capita★2.09 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate54.26 %72.03 %★
Gini Index Coefficient63★44.1
Gross National Saving16.1★3.6
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.4 %★-36.8 %
Inflation Rate4.36 %★91.44 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.4 %★91.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP2 % of GDP★
Natural Gas Consumption5.07★0
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports4.16★0
Natural Gas Production906.1★0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves063.71★
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people★82.3 people
Public Debt76.2★86.6
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USD★-5.2 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends7.68 %★-55 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,000★8,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,600★0
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,200★7,160
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,100★0
Remittances0.29.5★
Taxes and Other Revenues26.11★8.5
Top Exporting Countries96.09B USD★4.40B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.52 %★0.01 %
Unemployment Rate33.2 %12.5 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.02 %★73.41 %
Youth Unemployment Rate60.26 %18.52 %★

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M29,261★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate87,566.02 %★1,500 %
Average Annual Temperature18.35 °C28.19 °C★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.71.73★
Global Precipitation Distribution652.17 mm690.12 mm★
Population Distributionthe 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 mapclusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation9.88 sq km15.37 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage9.6 %15.4 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year★4 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources51.35★49.5
Total Threatened Mammal Species33 species18 species★

Geography

5 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %★0.54 %
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km★282,548.2 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.21M★631,930
Coastline Length (km)2,798 km★0 km
Irrigated Land16,700★1,000

Government

8 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %★0.84 %
Administrative Divisions910★
Corruption Perception Index41 index8 index★
Corruption Perceptions Index Score41 index★8 index
Independence31★9
LGBT Rights Index Score10.94★-0.43
Public Sector Corruption Perception418★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

18 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Change in Measles Immunization Rate76 %★72 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.2★4.6
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.31 years★57.74 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.87 per 1,000 births★2.76 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,541.18 USD★191.11 USD
Health Coverage Index Score74 score★41 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★5.9 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.31 years★57.74 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %2.1 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate0.11 cases per 1,000★254.08 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %★692 %
Nurses and Midwives Density6.39 per 1,000 people★0.69 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.3 %6.6 %★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending6.69 %★27.14 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.8★180,000
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People2 per 100,000 people★0 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors0.79★0.04
Underweight Children Under 55.5NA

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Active Military Personnel74,000 personnel★53,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.74 %★3.42 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,000★53,000

People and Society

33 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %73.25 %★
Human Capital Index0.42★0.31
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years★61.29 years
Median age of population29 years★19.02 years
Population Change673,269.7 persons★404,178 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km22.28 per sq. km★
Total population65.49M persons★12.43M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.83★0.05
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %35.68 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %NA
Crude Birth Rate18.48 per 1,000 people29.22 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)6.56 %★8.65 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP★1.6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons★3.22M persons
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate3.41 %★0 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.52 male/female★102.92 male/female
Labor Force Participation Rate27.77★5.09
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years★2.94 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people459,000 people★
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.65 %5.09 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %★65.41 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km★0.04 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.06 %4.52 %★
Population living in slums23.64 %94.2 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio30.33★46.75
Total deaths540,582.7 persons122,327.9 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %★29.16 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman3.62 per woman★
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons161,320.7 persons★
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births★97.11 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.34 %3.46 %★

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.37★0.01
Airports573★89
Heliports49★2

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.96B USD★246.80M USD

Other

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇸🇸 South SudanShare
Current Bank Rate7 %13 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs South Sudan

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

South Africa. South Africa has 5.3 times as many people as South Sudan (65.49 million vs 12.43 million). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 45.6 times the size of South Sudan's ($424.75 billion vs $9.32 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $749.57 in South Sudan (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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