South Africa vs Spain: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 37% more people than Spain (65.49 million vs 47.87 million). Spain's economy is 4.5 times the size of South Africa's ($1.92 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Spain: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Spain (1.30); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Spain (1.44); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against Spain (1.36). Across 176 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 48 and Spain wins on 120.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 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: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 39.23 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 % | 95.76 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 95.45 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 95% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 39.23 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points | 77.35 points★ | |
| Radios | 17★ | 13.1 | |
| Televisions | 6 | 16.2★ | |
| Waterways | NA | 1,045 |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M★ | 4.88M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 30,143.75 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C★ | 15.09 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 254.82★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 741.69 mm★ | |
| 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 | with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Ma | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 28.1 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 28.1 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 29.9 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 111.5★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 18 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 2.86 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 55.87 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 268,740.2 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 499,697.4 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km | 4,964 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,106.31 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700 | 38,012★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 % | 76.3 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 17★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index★ | 56 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index | 56 index★ | |
| Independence | 31 | 149★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 10.34 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 259 per 100,000 | 117 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41★ | 56 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 124,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 %★ | 2.13 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 199,000★ |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 3.11★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 365 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | 210★ | |
| Heliports | 49 | 162★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇪🇸 Spain | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 6.72B USD | 106.66B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Spain
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Spain?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 37% more people than Spain (65.49 million vs 47.87 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Spain?▾
Spain. Spain's economy is 4.5 times the size of South Africa's ($1.92 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Spain?▾
Spain is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $40,130 in Spain vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).