South Africa vs Sweden: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing South Africa and Sweden: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Sweden (11,000); Sweden leads on Natural Gas Imports (764.50) against South Africa (4.16); Sweden leads on Natural Gas Consumption (764.50) against South Africa (5.07). Across 112 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 40 and Sweden wins on 61.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 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 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 95.7 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points | 88.13 points★ | |
| Radios | 17★ | 8.25 | |
| Televisions | 6★ | 4.6 | |
| Waterways | NA | 2,052 |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 1.39M★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 43.96★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| 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 | most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 20 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 174★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 1.04 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 72.47 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 29,942.1 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km | 3,218 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 3,323.51 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 510 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 % | 90.5 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 21★ | |
| Independence | 31★ | 6 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 102.05 | 11.4★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.2★ | 5.8 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.3 % of GDP | 10.7 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 18.3 % | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.3 people/sq km★ | 2.2 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 118 % | 4 %★ | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 22.5 | 28.9★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 28.3 % | 20.6 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 7.8★ | 11,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 5.5 | NA |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000★ | 15,000 |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇪 Sweden | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 2.27★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 206 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | 115★ | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 11 |