South Africa vs United States: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

The United States leads in many areas compared to South Africa, with a substantial GDP of $32.95 trillion compared to South Africa's $424.75 billion. In terms of population, the U.S. has 349.13 million people, while South Africa has 65.49 million.

Economy

In economic terms, the United States dominates with a GDP of $32.95 trillion, far surpassing South Africa's $424.75 billion. The U.S. also excels in Agriculture Value Added, generating $350.60 billion compared to South Africa's $14.21 billion.

People and Society

The United States has a higher median age of 38.79 years, while South Africa's is 29 years. The U.S. also has a higher percentage of currently married individuals at 51.38%, compared to South Africa's 33.25%.

Environment

Both countries have unique environmental metrics. The U.S. has a higher above-ground biomass in forests at 94.67 tonnes/ha, while South Africa records 85.66 tonnes/ha. However, South Africa shows significant carbon dioxide emissions at 446.7 million tonnes, whereas the U.S. has a lower figure of 4.8 million tonnes.

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)75.66 %93.14 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points65.49 points
Radios17575
Televisions6219
WaterwaysNA41,009

Economy

44 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $350.60B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $32.95T $
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.75 %0.5 %
Coal Revenue2.40.2
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.38 %4.1 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP16.9 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index59.692
Electricity Consumption207.13.9
Electricity Exports16.559.7
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8570
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants17
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels49
Electricity from Other Renewables1014
Electricity Imports10.5672.72
Electricity Installed Capacity50.021.09
Electricity Production234.54.1
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)86.2 USD per capita278.47 USD per capita
Gini Index Coefficient6339.8
Gross Fixed Investment19.512.9
Gross National Saving16.118.9
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.4 %3.25 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.4 %2.9 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP3.2 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption5.07767.6
Natural Gas Exports089.7
Natural Gas Imports4.1686.15
Natural Gas Production906.1772.8
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption553,00019.15
Oil Exports54,9301.92
Oil Imports521,40010.27
Oil Production192,1009.69
Oil Proved Reserves1520.68
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people15.1 people
Public Debt76.2114.8
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USD2.8 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,00019.96
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,6005.22
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,2002.18
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,10020.3
Remittances0.20
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)31.211.25
Taxes and Other Revenues2610.6
Unemployment Rate33.2 %4.2 %

Environment

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M-14.29M
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.74.8
Continental Shelf200not specified;
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 maplarge urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year1,383 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources51.353.07

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %2.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)85.6694.67
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km4.17M sq. km
Coastline Length (km)2,798 km19,924 km
Dam capacity per capita464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land16,700234,782

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %88.3 %
Administrative Divisions950
Independence314
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

10 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)102.0526.49
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.213.7
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP16.6 % of GDP
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2.8 people/sq km2.9 people/sq km
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %17 %
Mean Age at First Birth22.525.4
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.3 %36.2 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.8NA
Underweight Children Under 54.90.4

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,0001.40M

People and Society

30 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %51.38 %
Human Capital Index0.420.72
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years83.22 years
Median age of population29 years38.79 years
Population Change673,269.7 persons2.26M persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km38.15 per sq. km
Total population65.49M persons349.13M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.830.4
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAC
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %10.75 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %73.9 %
Death Rate (%)6.56 %8.76 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP5.4 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons78.56M persons
Labor Force Participation Rate27.77174.17
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years11.07 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days183.4 days
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people18.94 people
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68177.13
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1817
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %74.52 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km3.68 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.06 %0.45 %
Population living in slums23.64 %0.05 %
Total deaths540,582.7 persons2.87M persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %65.73 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman1.61 per woman
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons1.49M persons
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births5.52 per live births

Transportation

5 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.372.06
Airports57316,116
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)03
Civil Air Travel908,252
Heliports498,130

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