South Africa vs Suriname: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 155 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 101 times as many people as Suriname (65.49 million vs 645,269). South Africa's economy is 86.9 times the size of Suriname's ($424.75 billion vs $4.89 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Suriname: Suriname leads on Major Urban Areas Population (239,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Suriname leads on Radios (300,000) against South Africa (17); Suriname leads on Televisions (63,000) against South Africa (6). Across 155 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 75 and Suriname wins on 71.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 54 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 23 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 35 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 18.75 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.34 % | 87.4 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 78.4 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 78% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 18.75 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 74.49 points | |
| Radios | 17 | 300,000★ | |
| Televisions | 6 | 63,000★ | |
| Waterways | NA | 1,200 |
Economy
54 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 119,181★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | -18,251.95 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 26.24 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 2.52★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 2,493.66 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 | population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 14.89 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 14.8 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 90 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 99★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 9 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 0.26 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 362.88★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 616 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 160,507.61 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 386 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 30,792.14 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 600 |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 50.13 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 10★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 40 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 40 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 25 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 2.07 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 40★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
23 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | 2,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000★ | 2,000 |
People and Society
35 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 0.48★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 55 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90★ | 1 | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 1 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 6.72B USD★ | 39.97M USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇷 Suriname | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7 % | 10 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Suriname
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Suriname?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 101 times as many people as Suriname (65.49 million vs 645,269). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Suriname?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 86.9 times the size of Suriname's ($424.75 billion vs $4.89 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Suriname?▾
Suriname is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,578 in Suriname vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).