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Geo Factbook

South Africa vs Switzerland: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 179 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

South Africa
zaf
Leads on 74 of 179 metrics
Switzerland
che
Leads on 94 of 179 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 7.3 times as many people as Switzerland (65.49 million vs 9.01 million). Switzerland's economy is 2.4 times the size of South Africa's ($1.03 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and Switzerland: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Switzerland (17,000); Switzerland leads on Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) (0.03) against South Africa (31.21); Switzerland leads on Apple Import Volume (11.79 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes). Across 179 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 74 and Switzerland wins on 94.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 68 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
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants47.02 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)78.36 %97.34 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)75.66 %97.34 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed5.35 Mbps47.02 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points83.98 points★
Radios17★7.1
Televisions6★3.31
WaterwaysNA65

Economy

68 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $★5.62B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $1.03T $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.07 %26.99 %★
Apple Import Volume48,832 tonnes11.79M tonnes★
Bank Account Ownership Rate81.13 %98.41 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.75 %★0.5 %
Coal Revenue2.4★0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.38 %★2.6 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends28 %★21.15 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP11.9 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index59.696.1★
Electricity Consumption207.1★58.46
Electricity Exports16.5530.17★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels85★3
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants167★
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels418★
Electricity from Other Renewables1013★
Electricity Imports10.5634.1★
Electricity Installed Capacity50.02★20.84
Electricity Production234.5★59.01
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)86.2 USD per capita99.58 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate55.4 %80.73 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage9.52 %12.42 %★
Gender Wage Gap9.52 %★12.42 %
Gini Index Coefficient63★33.7
Gross Fixed Investment19.520.6★
Gross National Saving16.133.8★
High-Tech Export Percentage45.27 %69.87 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries13,592.05 USD85,732.11 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.4 %1.7 %★
Inflation Rate3.21 %0.15 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.4 %1.1 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption5.07★3.71
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports4.16★3.68
Natural Gas Production906.1★0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves0NA cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Number of AI Patents Filed22 patents★11 patents
Oil Consumption553,000★242,700
Oil Exports54,930★9,851
Oil Imports521,400★272,700
Oil Production192,100★3,488
Oil Proved Reserves15★0
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people14.7 people★
Public Debt76.219.9★
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.61 %3.25 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USD1.3 USD★
Real Interest Rate Trends7.42 %★1.99 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,000★223,900
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,600★7,345
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,200★165,100
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,100★61,550
Remittances0.20.4★
Researchers in R&D per Million454.8 researchers6,003.41 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.61 USD3.25 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)31.210.03★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)25.88 %9.45 %★
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)25.88 % of GDP★9.45 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues26★9
Top Exporting Countries127.53B USD675.81B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.51 %★-1.18 %
Total Number of Billionaires745★
Tourism Contribution to GDP3.54 %★1.94 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)3.54 %★1.94 %
Unemployment Rate33.2 %4.2 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.58 %★66.75 %
Youth Unemployment Rate59.93 %9.04 %★

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M94,222★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate87,566.02 %★1,832.01 %
Average Annual Temperature18.35 °C★6.78 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.733.31★
Global Precipitation Distribution652.17 mm1,537.18 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 mappopulation distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
Protected Land Area for Adaptation9.88 sq km12.62 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage9.6 %12.5 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year★2.5 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources51.3553.5★
Total Threatened Mammal Species33 species5 species★

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %10.55 %★
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)85.66193.06★
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km★14,840.06 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.21M★39,509.63
Coastline Length (km)2,798 km★0 km
Dam capacity per capita464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★368.47 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land16,700★494

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %97.65 %★
Administrative Divisions926★
Corruption Perception Index41 index★81 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score41 index81 index★
Independence31★1
LGBT Rights Index Score10.94★5.95
Prison Population Rate260 per 100,00077 per 100,000★
Public Sector Corruption Perception41★81
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water68.01 %96.7 %★
Average BMI for Adults25 kg/m²26.7 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate76 %96 %★
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)102.056.92★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.2★5.3
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.31 years84.41 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.87 per 1,000 births0.23 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita1,541.18 USD12,698.68 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score74 score87 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP11.8 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.31 years84.41 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %0.2 %★
Hospital Bed Density2.3 people/sq km4.7 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita2.25 beds per 1,0005.19 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence16.64 %6.42 %★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %5 %★
Mean Age at First Birth22.530.2★
Nurses and Midwives Density6.39 per 1,000 people18.76 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.3 %19.5 %★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending6.69 %★22.03 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.8★17,000
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)4.08 %7.62 %★
Total Number of Doctors0.794.48★
Underweight Children Under 55.5NA

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Active Military Personnel74,000 personnel★20,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.74 %★0.76 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,000★20,000

People and Society

41 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %56.83 %★
Human Capital Index0.420.75★
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years86.21 years★
Median age of population29 years43.24 years★
Population Change673,269.7 persons★31,734.2 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km★226.22 per sq. km
Total population65.49M persons★9.01M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.83★0.77
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAB★
Beer Consumption per Capita3.65 liters★3.03 liters
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %★10.01 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %71.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate18.48 per 1,000 people★8.7 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.56 %★8.61 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP★4.9 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons★1.91M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)29.84 %78.75 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate5.35 %47.02 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.52 male/female105.1 male/female★
Human Development Index0.480.89★
Labor Force Participation Rate27.77★5.15
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years10.87 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people★1.43 people
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68178.42★
Mean Years of Schooling10.47 years12.97 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age1820★
Military Service Age and Obligation18every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, foll
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.65 %★29.96 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %★77.26 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km4.48 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate1.06 %★0.72 %
Population living in slums23.64 %★0 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio32.7710.1★
Total deaths540,582.7 persons76,930.9 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %77.1 %★
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman★1.41 per woman
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons★28,963.1 persons
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births3.5 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.34 %★1.27 %
Voting Age Population47.28 millions★36.06 millions

Transportation

5 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.373★
Airports573★66
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel90★89
Heliports4952★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita6.72B USD26.49B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇨🇭 SwitzerlandShare
Current Bank Rate7 %★0 %

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Switzerland

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

South Africa. South Africa has 7.3 times as many people as Switzerland (65.49 million vs 9.01 million). Data for 2026.

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

Switzerland. Switzerland's economy is 2.4 times the size of South Africa's ($1.03 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Switzerland is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $114,355 in Switzerland vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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