South Africa vs Syrian Arab Republic: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 160 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 2.5 times as many people as Syrian Arab Republic (65.49 million vs 26.57 million). South Africa's economy is 25.8 times the size of Syrian Arab Republic's ($424.75 billion vs $16.43 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Syrian Arab Republic: South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,566 %) against Syrian Arab Republic (31.99 %); South Africa leads on Beer Consumption per Capita (3.65 liters) against Syrian Arab Republic (0.01 liters); South Africa leads on Natural Gas Production (906.10) against Syrian Arab Republic (3.74). Across 160 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 83 and Syrian Arab Republic wins on 63.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 55 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 3.41 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 6.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 62.4 %★ | 33.77 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 69.7 %★ | 34.65 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 35% (2019 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 3.41 Mbps | 6.86 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 15.82 points | |
| Radios | 17★ | 4.15 | |
| Televisions | 6★ | 1.05 | |
| Waterways | NA | 870 |
Economy
55 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 104,804★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 31.99 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 20.26 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 20.24★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm★ | 145.47 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 | significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of H | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km★ | 0.7 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 %★ | 0.7 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 6.17 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35★ | 16.8 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 15 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 3.98 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 49.98 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 133,656.6 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 183,630 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 193 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 748.37 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 9,820 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 1.5 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 14★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 12 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 12 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 17 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | -1.31 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 403 per 100,000 | 60 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 12★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 169,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1 %★ | 4.06 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 269,000★ |
People and Society
38 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 33.25 % | 54.36 %★ | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 71.98 years | 75.31 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 29 years★ | 23.98 years | |
| Population Change | 673,269.7 persons | 1.11M persons★ | |
| Population density | 53.74 per sq. km★ | 145.09 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 65.49M persons★ | 26.57M persons | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.83★ | 0.2 | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 3.65 liters★ | 0.01 liters | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 17.21 % | 21.26 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 54.6 % | NA | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 18.48 per 1,000 people | 23.16 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 6.56 % | 3.97 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.6 % of GDP | NA | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 18.20M persons★ | 7.60M persons | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 22.34 % | 47.38 %★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 3.41 % | 6.86 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 103.52 male/female | 104.78 male/female★ | |
| Human Development Index | 0.48★ | 0.19 | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 27.77★ | 6.62 | |
| Length of paid parental leave for mother | 0 days | 0 days | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 10.32 people★ | 2.59 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 166.68 | 170.43★ | |
| Mean Years of Schooling | 10.47 years★ | 7.92 years | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 19★ | |
| Military Service Age and Obligation | 18 | under Bashar al-ASAD, Syrian men aged 18-38 were required to serve 18-21 months in the military; conscription continued until ASAD's fall when the interim government announced that mandatory conscription to Syria s armed forces would be abolished and only | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 9.65 % | 7.21 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 79.63 % | 82.39 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 0.79 people/sq km | 1.52 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 1.06 % | 1.63 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.64 % | 41.64 %★ | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 35.28 | 25.33★ | |
| Total deaths | 540,582.7 persons | 130,201.4 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 62.02 %★ | 41.9 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 2.17 per woman | 2.63 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | 39,599.6 persons | 604,061 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 28.89 per live births | 20.62 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 1.34 % | 3.78 %★ | |
| Voting Age Population | 39.64 millions | 50.1 millions★ |
Transportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.03 | |
| Airports | 573★ | 42 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90★ | 35 | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 13 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 10.71B USD★ | 1.82B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Syrian Arab Republic
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Syrian Arab Republic?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 2.5 times as many people as Syrian Arab Republic (65.49 million vs 26.57 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Syrian Arab Republic?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 25.8 times the size of Syrian Arab Republic's ($424.75 billion vs $16.43 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Syrian Arab Republic?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $618.53 in Syrian Arab Republic (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).