South Africa vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 173 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United Kingdom has 7% more people than South Africa (69.96 million vs 65.49 million). United Kingdom's economy is 9.7 times the size of South Africa's ($4.1 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and United Kingdom: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against United Kingdom (1.58); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against United Kingdom (1.29); South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against United Kingdom (1.45). Across 173 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 54 and United Kingdom wins on 108.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 68 metrics compared
- Environment: 10 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 38 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 % | 95.47 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 96.3 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 42.16 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points | 78.89 points★ | |
| Radios | 17 | 84.5★ | |
| Televisions | 6 | 30.5★ | |
| Waterways | NA | 3,200 |
Economy
68 metricsEnvironment
10 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M★ | 5.08M | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C★ | 10.37 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 340.94★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 962.53 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 core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 28.58 sq km★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 9.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 147★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 4 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 9.75 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 115★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 172,448.2 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 241,930 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km | 12,429 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 718 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 % | 86.77 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index★ | 71 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index | 71 index★ | |
| Independence | 31 | no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94 | 10.98★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 260 per 100,000 | 139.33 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41★ | 71 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 %★ | 2.35 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 153,000★ |
People and Society
38 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 2.25★ | |
| Airports | 573 | 1,057★ | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | 618★ | |
| Heliports | 49 | 139★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 6.72B USD | 84.55B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7 %★ | 3.75 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs United Kingdom
Which has a larger population, South Africa or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom has 7% more people than South Africa (69.96 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom's economy is 9.7 times the size of South Africa's ($4.1 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $58,622 in United Kingdom vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).