South Africa vs Turkmenistan: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 154 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 8.5 times as many people as Turkmenistan (65.49 million vs 7.74 million). South Africa's economy is 7.8 times the size of Turkmenistan's ($424.75 billion vs $54.34 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan leads on Televisions (820,000) against South Africa (6); Turkmenistan leads on Major Urban Areas Population (902,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Turkmenistan leads on Population Below Poverty Line (0.20 people) against South Africa (55.50 people). Across 154 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 81 and Turkmenistan wins on 63.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 53 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 25 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 34 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.22 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 54 %★ | 17.99 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 56.17 %★ | 21.25 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 21% (2017 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 3.12 Mbps | 5.22 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 19.14 points | |
| Radios | 17★ | 1.23 | |
| Televisions | 6 | 820,000★ | |
| Waterways | NA | the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as is the man-made Kara Kum canal |
Economy
53 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | -14.42M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 0 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C★ | 18.22 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 106.22★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm★ | 113.74 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 | the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km★ | 4.63 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 %★ | 4.3 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | 0.4 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35★ | 24.77 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 9 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 0.7 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 4.24 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 404,658 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 469,930 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 0 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 705.87 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 16,459 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 6.74 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9★ | 5 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 17 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 17 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 27 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | -0.34 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 318 per 100,000 | 228 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 17★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | 37,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000★ | 57,000 |
People and Society
34 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.29 | |
| Airports | 573★ | 23 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | NA | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 25 |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Turkmenistan
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Turkmenistan?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 8.5 times as many people as Turkmenistan (65.49 million vs 7.74 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Turkmenistan?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 7.8 times the size of Turkmenistan's ($424.75 billion vs $54.34 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Turkmenistan?▾
Turkmenistan is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,018 in Turkmenistan vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).