South Africa vs State of Palestine: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 79 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 11.5 times as many people as State of Palestine (65.49 million vs 5.68 million). South Africa's economy is 27.7 times the size of State of Palestine's ($424.75 billion vs $15.31 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and State of Palestine: South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,566 %) against State of Palestine (106.00 %); South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against State of Palestine (3,433 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against State of Palestine (6,025). Across 79 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 36 and State of Palestine wins on 42.

  • Communications: 5 metrics compared
  • Economy: 21 metrics compared
  • Environment: 8 metrics compared
  • Geography: 4 metrics compared
  • Government: 1 metric compared
  • Health: 13 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 25 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

5 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants8.16 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)78.34 %86.64 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)75.66 %86.64 %★
Mobile Internet Speed5.35 Mbps8.16 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points★27.41 points

Economy

21 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $★1.28B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $★15.31B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.07 %23.47 %★
Bank Account Ownership Rate81.13 %★39.62 %
Female Labor Force Participation Rate52.12 %★20.13 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage9.52 %★7.85 %
Gender Wage Gap9.52 %7.85 %★
High-Tech Export Percentage45.27 %★12.39 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries13,592.05 USD★4,272.46 USD
Inflation Rate3.21 %★9.81 %
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.66 %★0.45 %
Real Interest Rate Trends0.6 %★-3.12 %
Researchers in R&D per Million430.45 researchers584.35 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.66 USD★0.45 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)29.540.65★
Top Exporting Countries127.53B USD★2.88B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.51 %1.92 %★
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.11 %★0.66 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.11 %★0.66 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate53.5 %44.99 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate61.68 %36.09 %★

Environment

8 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M24,688★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate87,566.02 %★106 %
Average Annual Temperature18.35 °C21.24 °C★
Global Precipitation Distribution652.17 mm★256.6 mm
Protected Land Area for Adaptation9.88 sq km10.8 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage9.6 %10 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year★0.75 Cubic meters per year
Total Threatened Mammal Species33 species5 species★

Geography

4 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %24.56 %★
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km★3,432.91 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.21M★6,025
Dam capacity per capita464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★0 cubic meters per inhabitant

Government

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %★21.93 %

Health

13 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water68.01 %80.64 %★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate76 %89 %★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.215.5★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.31 years69.21 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.87 per 1,000 births0.91 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita1,541.18 USD★609.65 USD
Health Coverage Index Score74 score★65 score
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.31 years69.21 years★
Hospital Beds per Capita2.25 beds per 1,000★1.3 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence16.64 %10.37 %★
Nurses and Midwives Density1.2 per 1,000 people1.95 per 1,000 people★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending6.69 %★42.07 %
Total Number of Doctors0.742.17★

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,000★0

People and Society

25 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %61.72 %★
Human Capital Index0.420.6★
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years74.42 years★
Median age of population29 years★20.21 years
Population Change673,269.7 persons★81,844.2 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km★946.28 per sq. km
Total population65.49M persons★5.68M persons
Crude Birth Rate18.48 per 1,000 people26.47 per 1,000 people★
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons★1.46M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)29.84 %54.78 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate5.35 %8.16 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.52 male/female104.84 male/female★
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years9.1 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68172.09★
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.65 %6.58 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %95 %★
Population living in slums23.64 %★15.84 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio30.3324★
Total deaths540,582.7 persons33,245.6 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %★46.21 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman3.12 per woman★
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons★-29,648.3 persons
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births27.47 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.34 %2.63 %★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇵🇸 State of PalestineShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita6.72B USD★131.96M USD

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs State of Palestine

Which has a larger population, South Africa or State of Palestine?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 11.5 times as many people as State of Palestine (65.49 million vs 5.68 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or State of Palestine?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 27.7 times the size of State of Palestine's ($424.75 billion vs $15.31 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, South Africa or State of Palestine?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $2,694 in State of Palestine (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons