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Geo Factbook

South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 108 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

South Africa
zaf
Leads on 48 of 108 metrics
United Arab Emirates
are
Leads on 47 of 108 metrics

Summary

Comparing South Africa and United Arab Emirates: South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against United Arab Emirates (2.81); United Arab Emirates leads on Televisions (310,000) against South Africa (6); United Arab Emirates leads on Radios (820,000) against South Africa (17). Across 108 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 48 and United Arab Emirates wins on 47.

  • Communications: 6 metrics compared
  • Economy: 42 metrics compared
  • Environment: 6 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 4 metrics compared
  • Health: 9 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 1 metric compared
  • People and Society: 29 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)75.66 %100 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points★26.91 points
Radios17820,000★
Televisions6310,000★
WaterwaysNAnone

Economy

42 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $★5.37B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $669.39B $★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.75 %NA
Coal Revenue2.4★0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.38 %★6 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★4.2 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index59.674.1★
Electricity Consumption207.1★113.2
Electricity Exports16.55★0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8599★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1★0
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels4★0
Electricity from Other Renewables10★1
Electricity Imports10.56★1.14
Electricity Installed Capacity50.02★28.91
Electricity Production234.5★121.8
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)86.2 USD per capita450.43 USD per capita★
Gini Index Coefficient63★26
Gross Fixed Investment19.528.5★
Gross National Saving16.128.5★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.4 %0.8 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.4 %1.7 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP4 % of GDP★
Natural Gas Consumption5.0774.48★
Natural Gas Exports07.5★
Natural Gas Imports4.1620.22★
Natural Gas Production906.1★62.01
Natural Gas Proved Reserves06.09★
Oil Consumption553,000★545,000
Oil Exports54,930★2.4
Oil Imports521,400★235,300
Oil Production192,100★2.81
Oil Proved Reserves1597.8★
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people19.5 people★
Public Debt76.219.7★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USD3.8 USD★
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,000896,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,600817,700★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,200392,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,100943,500★
Taxes and Other Revenues26★0.6
Unemployment Rate33.2 %2.2 %★

Environment

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M★11.56M
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.7271.7★
Continental Shelf200defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line
Population Distributionthe 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 mappopulation is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year★0.12 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources51.35150★

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %4.91 %★
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)85.66★74.43
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km★4,014.84 sq. km
Coastline Length (km)2,798 km★1,318 km
Dam capacity per capita464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★5.49 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land16,700★940

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %79.62 %★
Administrative Divisions9★7
Independence31★2
Suffrage Participation Rate18limited note: rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that accounts for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens

Health

9 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)102.0511.12★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.220.7★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★5.3 % of GDP
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2.3 people/sq km★1.4 people/sq km
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %3 %★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.3 %★31.7 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.8<1,000 (2020)
Underweight Children Under 55.5NA

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,000★63,000

People and Society

29 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %69.02 %★
Human Capital Index0.420.71★
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years85.97 years★
Median age of population29 years31.86 years★
Population Change673,269.7 persons★235,550.7 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km★165.84 per sq. km
Total population65.49M persons★11.66M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.83★0.2
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %★10.65 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %NA
Death Rate (%)6.56 %1.73 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP★3.9 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons★2.84M persons
Labor Force Participation Rate27.77★7.09
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years10.33 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days17.5 days★
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people★3.01 people
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68170.46★
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %91.5 %★
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km2.99 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate1.06 %★0.62 %
Population living in slums23.64 %★-0.04 %
Total deaths540,582.7 persons9,956.5 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %★48.76 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman★1.23 per woman
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons125,185 persons★
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births5.88 per live births★

Transportation

5 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.373★
Airports573★42
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel90★10
Heliports49204★

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