South Africa vs Turkey: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Turkey has 34% more people than South Africa (87.9 million vs 65.49 million). Turkey's economy is 3.8 times the size of South Africa's ($1.62 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and Turkey: South Africa leads on Gender Pay Gap Percentage (9.52 %) against Turkey (-0.06 %); Turkey leads on Gender Wage Gap (-0.06 %) against South Africa (9.52 %); South Africa leads on Coal Revenue (2.40) against Turkey (0.05). Across 176 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 60 and Turkey wins on 108.

Communications: 9 metrics compared
Economy: 67 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: 3 metrics compared
Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Fixed Broadband Penetration	5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants	23.43 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★	2024
Internet Penetration Rate (%)	78.36 %	87.31 %★	2024
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)	75.66 %	85.96 %★	2023
Internet Users	percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)	percent of population: 87% (2024 est.)	2025
Mobile Internet Speed	5.35 Mbps	23.43 Mbps★	2024
Press Freedom Index Score	75.71 points★	29.4 points	2025
Radios	17★	11.3	2002
Televisions	6	20.9★	2002
Waterways	NA	1,200	2003

Economy

67 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country	14.21B $	63.56B $★	2026
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars	424.75B $	1.62T $★	2026
AI Investment (% of GDP)	14.07 %	30.73 %★	2024
Apple Import Volume	48,832 tonnes	177,986 tonnes★	2026
Bank Account Ownership Rate	81.13 %	81.55 %★	2024
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)	5.75 %★	5.25 %	2019
Coal Revenue	2.4★	0.05	2024
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)	10.38 %	15.77 %★	2019
Corporate Tax Rate Trends	28 %★	22 %	2018
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)	8.3 % of GDP★	4.1 % of GDP	2021
Ease of Doing Business Index	59.6	91.6★	2020
Electricity Consumption	207.1	231.1★	2021
Electricity Exports	16.55★	1.44	2021
Electricity from Fossil Fuels	85★	53	2021
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants	1	33★	2021
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels	4★	0	2021
Electricity from Other Renewables	10	14★	2021
Electricity Imports	10.56★	6.33	2021
Electricity Installed Capacity	50.02	78.5★	2021
Electricity Production	234.5	261.9★	2021
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)	86.2 USD per capita★	70.52 USD per capita	2025
Female Labor Force Participation Rate	55.4 %★	42.48 %	2025
Gender Pay Gap Percentage	9.52 %★	-0.06 %	2019
Gender Wage Gap	9.52 %	-0.06 %★	2019
Gini Index Coefficient	63★	44.4	2024
Gross Fixed Investment	19.5	21.9★	2012
Gross National Saving	16.1	25.5★	2020
High-Tech Export Percentage	45.27 %★	40.27 %	2022
Highest GDP per Capita Countries	13,592.05 USD	37,300.75 USD★	2025
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)	-0.4 %	2.2 %★	2025
Inflation Rate	3.21 %★	34.88 %	2025
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)	4.4 %★	58.5 %	2025
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)	0.7 % of GDP	2.3 % of GDP★	2025
Natural Gas Consumption	5.07	53.6★	2021
Natural Gas Exports	0	622.9★	2021
Natural Gas Imports	4.16	55.13★	2021
Natural Gas Production	906.1★	368.1	2021
Natural Gas Proved Reserves	0	5.1★	2021
Number of AI Patents Filed	22 patents	60 patents★	2021
Oil Consumption	553,000	646,300★	2011
Oil Exports	54,930	68,450★	2011
Oil Imports	521,400	581,000★	2011
Oil Production	192,100★	55,110	2011
Oil Proved Reserves	15	270.4★	2011
Population Below Poverty Line	55.5 people	14.4 people★	2024
Public Debt	76.2	33.1★	2025
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)	0.61 %	1.32 %★	2022
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)	0.6 USD	3.2 USD★	2025
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption	621,000	989,900★	2021
Refined Petroleum Products Exports	105,600	141,600★	2023
Refined Petroleum Products Imports	195,200	560,000★	2023
Refined Petroleum Products Production	487,100	657,900★	2023
Remittances	0.2★	0.1	2025
Researchers in R&D per Million	444.16 researchers	2,478.68 researchers★	2022
Robotics Research Funding	0.61 USD	1.32 USD★	2022
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)	31.21	1.02★	2014
Tax Burden (% of GDP)	25.88 %	17.62 %★	2024
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)	25.88 % of GDP★	17.62 % of GDP	2024
Taxes and Other Revenues	26★	18.5	2025
Top Exporting Countries	127.53B USD	374.69B USD★	2024
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)	0.58 %	0.86 %★	2024
Total Number of Billionaires	7	32★	2026
Tourism Contribution to GDP	3.54 %	4.4 %★	2022
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)	3.54 %	4.4 %★	2022
Unemployment Rate	33.2 %	8.5 %★	2025
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate	55.58 %	54.38 %★	2025
Youth Unemployment Rate	59.93 %	16.04 %★	2025

Environment

11 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)	3.23M★	26.09M	2024
Annual Forest Area Change Rate	87,566.02 %	117,080.08 %★	2025
Average Annual Temperature	18.35 °C★	12.88 °C	2025
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	446.7	399.17★	2025
Global Precipitation Distribution	652.17 mm★	545.81 mm	2025
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	the most densely populated area is found around the Bosporus in the northwest, where 20% of the population lives in Istanbul; with the exception of Ankara, urban centers remain small and scattered throughout the interior of Anatolia; an overall pattern of	2025
Protected Land Area for Adaptation	9.88 sq km★	7 sq km	2026
Protected Land Area Percentage	9.6 %★	7 %	2025
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country	4.8 Cubic meters per year	67.8 Cubic meters per year★	2026
Total Renewable Water Resources	51.35	211.6★	2025
Total Threatened Mammal Species	33 species	18 species★	2022

Geography

7 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization	1.94 %	2.34 %★	2026
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)	85.66★	48.11	2020
Agricultural land	963,410 sq. km★	390,366 sq. km	2026
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km	1.21M★	769,630	2023
Coastline Length (km)	2,798 km	7,200 km★	2025
Dam capacity per capita	464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant	1,751.97 cubic meters per inhabitant★	2026
Irrigated Land	16,700	52,150★	2025

Government

9 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Rule of Law Index by Country	61.59 %★	28.24 %	2026
Administrative Divisions	9	81★	2025
Corruption Perception Index	41 index	34 index★	2024
Corruption Perceptions Index Score	41 index★	34 index	2024
Independence	31★	29	2025
LGBT Rights Index Score	10.94★	1.07	2019
Prison Population Rate	259 per 100,000★	319 per 100,000	2020
Public Sector Corruption Perception	41	34★	2024
Suffrage Participation Rate	18	18	2025

Health

24 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Average BMI for Adults	25 kg/m²	27.1 kg/m²★	2016
Change in Measles Immunization Rate	76 %	95 %★	2024
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)	102.05	24.01★	2020
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)	7.2	16.5★	2024
Female Life Expectancy Leaders	66.31 years	77.42 years★	2024
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends	1.87 per 1,000 births	0.44 per 1,000 births★	2023
Health Care Spending per Capita	1,541.18 USD	2,044.97 USD★	2026
Health Coverage Index Score	74 score	77 score★	2023
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)	8.3 % of GDP★	4.6 % of GDP	2025
Highest Male Life Expectancy	66.31 years	77.42 years★	2024
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate	18.3 %	NA	2022
Hospital Bed Density	2.3 people/sq km	2.8 people/sq km★	2020
Hospital Beds per Capita	2.25 beds per 1,000	2.73 beds per 1,000★	2010
Low Birth Weight Prevalence	16.64 %	12.9 %★	2020
Malaria Incidence Rate	0.74 cases per 1,000	0 cases per 1,000★	2020
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)	118 %	15 %★	2025
Mean Age at First Birth	22.5★	22.3	2014
Nurses and Midwives Density	6.39 per 1,000 people★	3.48 per 1,000 people	2022
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)	28.3 %★	32.1 %	2025
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending	6.69 %★	19.05 %	2023
People Living With HIV/AIDS	7.8	NA	2021
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)	4.08 %★	3.18 %	2023
Total Number of Doctors	0.79	2.24★	2022
Underweight Children Under 5	4.9	1.5★	2025

Military and Security

3 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Active Military Personnel	74,000 personnel	355,000 personnel★	2022
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)	0.74 %★	1.91 %	2025
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)	89,000	512,000★	2020

People and Society

41 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Currently married (Percent)	33.25 %	57.72 %★	2026
Human Capital Index	0.42	0.65★	2026
Life expectancy at birth	71.98 years	81.12 years★	2026
Median age of population	29 years	33.9 years★	2026
Population Change	673,269.7 persons★	86,522.3 persons	2026
Population density	53.74 per sq. km★	114.29 per sq. km	2026
Total population	65.49M persons	87.90M persons★	2026
Academic Freedom Index	0.83★	0.09	2025
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & Rankings	A	B★	2026
Beer Consumption per Capita	3.65 liters★	0.76 liters	2022
Birth Rate (%)	17.21 %★	13.56 %	2025
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate	54.6 %	69.8 %★	2024
Crude Birth Rate	18.48 per 1,000 people★	11 per 1,000 people	2024
Death Rate (%)	6.56 %	6.19 %★	2025
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)	6 % of GDP★	3.1 % of GDP	2025
Female population of reproductive age	18.20M persons	22.42M persons★	2026
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)	29.84 %	110 %★	2023
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate	5.35 %	23.43 %★	2024
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth	103.52 male/female	104.93 male/female★	2023
Human Development Index	0.48★	0.33	2020
Labor Force Participation Rate	27.77	36.08★	2025
Learning-adjusted years of school	4.88 years	8.99 years★	2026
Length of paid parental leave for mother	0 days	0 days	2026
Major Urban Areas Population	10.32 people	15.85 people★	2025
Mean Male Height (cm)	166.68	174.21★	1996
Mean Years of Schooling	10.47 years★	8.49 years	2020
Military Manpower at Military Age	18	20★	2003
Military Service Age and Obligation	18	military service is compulsory for Turkish men 20-41 for a period of 6-12 months; men and women may volunteer (2025) note: after completing 1 month of basic training, conscripts have the option to opt out of the last 5 months by paying a fee	2025
Old-Age Dependency Ratio	9.65 %★	14.67 %	2023
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization	79.63 %	82.87 %★	2026
Physician Density	0.79 people/sq km	2.24 people/sq km★	2025
Population Growth Rate	1.06 %★	0.59 %	2025
Population living in slums	23.64 %★	13.67 %	2026
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio	30.33	18.41★	2015
Total deaths	540,582.7 persons★	549,620.5 persons	2026
Total demand for family planning (Percent)	62.02 %★	48.11 %	2026
Total fertility rate	2.17 per woman★	1.59 per woman	2026
Total net-migration	39,599.6 persons★	-386,112.8 persons	2026
Under-five mortality rate	28.89 per live births	11.62 per live births★	2026
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate	1.34 %★	0.59 %	2025
Voting Age Population	53.77 millions	74.37 millions★	2014

Transportation

3 metrics

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)	0.37	1.09★	2019
Airports	573★	116	2025
Heliports	49	240★	2025

Travel and Tourism

1 metric

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year	Share
Tourism Receipts per Capita	6.72B USD	78.21B USD★	2024

Other

1 metric

Metric	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇹🇷 Turkey	Year	Share
Current Bank Rate	7 %	37 %★	2026

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Turkey

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

Turkey. Turkey has 34% more people than South Africa (87.9 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.

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

Turkey. Turkey's economy is 3.8 times the size of South Africa's ($1.62 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Turkey is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $18,441 in Turkey vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).