South Africa vs Tuvalu: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 119 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 7,013 times as many people as Tuvalu (65.49 million vs 9,339). South Africa's economy is 6,129 times the size of Tuvalu's ($424.75 billion vs $69.3 million GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Tuvalu: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against Tuvalu (18 sq. km); South Africa leads on Airports per 1,000 Sq Km (1.21 million) against Tuvalu (30); South Africa leads on Female population of reproductive age (18.20 million persons) against Tuvalu (1,922 persons). Across 119 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 54 and Tuvalu wins on 56.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 33 metrics compared
- Environment: 9 metrics compared
- Geography: 5 metrics compared
- Government: 6 metrics compared
- Health: 20 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 33 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 4.52 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 56.17 %★ | 35.2 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 %★ | 74.31 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 74% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 3.12 Mbps | 4.52 Mbps★ | |
| Radios | 17 | 4,000★ | |
| Televisions | 6 | 800★ | |
| Waterways | NA | none |
Economy
33 metricsEnvironment
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 500★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 0 % | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 470.36 | 0★ | |
| 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 | over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 22.3 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 20.2 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | 0 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35★ | 0 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 2 species★ |
Geography
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 6.83 %★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 18 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 30 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 24 km | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 0 |
Government
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 % | 89.11 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9★ | 7 | |
| Independence | 31★ | 1 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 0.71 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 288 per 100,000 | 110 per 100,000★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
20 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 68.01 %★ | 8.72 % | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 25 kg/m² | 30 kg/m²★ | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 76 % | 97 %★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.2 | 19★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 66.31 years | 67.26 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 1.87 per 1,000 births | 0.87 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 1,541.18 USD | 1,874.69 USD★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 74 score★ | 65 score | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.3 % of GDP | 20 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 66.31 years | 67.26 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 18.3 % | 5.2 %★ | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.8 people/sq km | 5.6 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 118 %★ | 170 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 22.5 | 23.5★ | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 1.01 per 1,000 people | 3.94 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 28.3 %★ | 51.6 % | |
| Out-of-Pocket Health Spending | 6.69 % | 0.04 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 7.8 | NA | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 0.74 | 0.91★ | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 4.9 | 2.9★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | 0 personnel |
People and Society
33 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 0.61★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 1 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | no major transport aircraft |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 5.96B USD★ | 9.51M USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Tuvalu
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Tuvalu?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 7,013 times as many people as Tuvalu (65.49 million vs 9,339). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Tuvalu?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 6,129 times the size of Tuvalu's ($424.75 billion vs $69.3 million GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Tuvalu?▾
Tuvalu is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $7,421 in Tuvalu vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).