South Africa vs Ukraine: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 63% more people than Ukraine (65.49 million vs 40.1 million). South Africa's economy is 2.1 times the size of Ukraine's ($424.75 billion vs $197.95 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Ukraine: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Ukraine (260,000); Ukraine leads on Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) (0.03) against South Africa (31.21); Ukraine leads on Total net-migration (2.45 million persons) against South Africa (39,600 persons). Across 176 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 68 and Ukraine wins on 95.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 65 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 25 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 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 21.65 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 % | 82.47 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 82.38 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 82% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 21.65 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 63.93 points | |
| Radios | 17 | 45.05★ | |
| Televisions | 6 | 18.05★ | |
| Waterways | NA | 4,499 |
Economy
65 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 3.17M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 38,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C★ | 10.49 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 106.85★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm★ | 538.1 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 | densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; notable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa note: the ongoing war with Russia has shifted significant portions of the populat | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 18.18 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 17.1 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 22 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 175.28★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 13 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 2.27 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 140★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 412,930 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 579,400 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 2,782 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,419.56 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 1,000 |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 14.89 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 24★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 35 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 35 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 24 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 2.07 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 35★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 688,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 %★ | 39.56 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 298,000★ |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.27 | |
| Airports | 573★ | 152 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | NA major transport aircraft | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 44 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 6.72B USD★ | 1.17B USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7 % | 15.5 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Ukraine
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Ukraine?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 63% more people than Ukraine (65.49 million vs 40.1 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Ukraine?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2.1 times the size of Ukraine's ($424.75 billion vs $197.95 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Ukraine?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $4,936 in Ukraine (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).