South Africa vs United States Virgin Islands: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 107 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

South Africa has 785 times as many people as United States Virgin Islands (65.49 million vs 83,372). South Africa's economy is 78.4 times the size of United States Virgin Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $5.42 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and United States Virgin Islands: South Africa leads on Agricultural land (963,410 sq. km) against United States Virgin Islands (33 sq. km); South Africa leads on Irrigated Land (16,700) against United States Virgin Islands (1); United States Virgin Islands leads on Televisions (68,000) against South Africa (6). Across 107 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 47 and United States Virgin Islands wins on 44.

  • Communications: 8 metrics compared
  • Economy: 42 metrics compared
  • Environment: 9 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 5 metrics compared
  • Health: 7 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 27 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 2 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

8 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants10.07 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)56.17 %64.38 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)56.17 %64.38 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 64% (2017 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed3.12 Mbps10.07 Mbpsā˜…
Radios17107,000ā˜…
Televisions668,000ā˜…
WaterwaysNAnone

Economy

42 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $ā˜…5.42B $
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDPNA
Electricity Consumption207.1654.7ā˜…
Electricity Exports16.55ā˜…0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8598ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants1ā˜…0
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels4ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables10ā˜…2
Electricity Imports10.56ā˜…0
Electricity Installed Capacity50.02325,000ā˜…
Electricity Production234.5704ā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate55.4 %67.47 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries13,767.5 USD46,479.3 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.15 %4.3 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)6.07 %1 %ā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption5.07ā˜…0
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports4.16ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production906.1ā˜…0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption553,000ā˜…85,000
Oil Exports54,930380,800ā˜…
Oil Imports521,400ā˜…442,000
Oil Production192,100ā˜…17,440
Oil Proved Reserves15ā˜…0
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people28.9 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)11.71 % of GDPā˜…9.59 % of GDP
Public Debt76.245.9ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.79 %ā˜…0.03 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USDā˜…-1.3 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,000ā˜…1,240
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,600ā˜…3,285
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,200ā˜…23,480
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,100ā˜…0
Robotics Research Funding0.79 USDā˜…0.03 USD
Taxes and Other Revenues26.1128.9ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries136.71B USDā˜…4.55B USD
Tourism Contribution to GDP3.7 %25.1 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)3.7 %25.1 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate33.2 %12.1 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.58 %54.36 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate59.93 %24.2 %ā˜…

Environment

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Annual Forest Area Change Rate87,566.02 %ā˜…150 %
Average Annual Temperature18.35 °C26.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.72.38ā˜…
Continental Shelf200200
Global Precipitation Distribution652.17 mm910.85 mmā˜…
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 mapoverall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Protected Land Area for Adaptation9.88 sq km12.97 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage9.6 %13.3 %ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species33 species1 speciesā˜…

Geography

6 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %15.89 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)85.66ā˜…52.5
Agricultural land963,410 sq. kmā˜…33 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.21Mā˜…350
Coastline Length (km)2,798 kmā˜…188 km
Irrigated Land16,700ā˜…1

Government

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %82.33 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions9no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Independence31none (territory of the US)
Prison Population Rate328 per 100,000ā˜…544 per 100,000
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water68.01 %98.68 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.29.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.31 years80.77 yearsā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.31 years80.77 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %NA
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.8NA
Underweight Children Under 55.5NA

People and Society

27 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %48.5 %ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years81.96 yearsā˜…
Median age of population29 years44.91 yearsā˜…
Population Change673,269.7 personsā˜…-818.8 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. kmā˜…238.18 per sq. km
Total population65.49M personsā˜…83,372 persons
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %ā˜…10.88 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %NA
Crude Birth Rate18.48 per 1,000 peopleā˜…11.1 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.56 %ā˜…9.43 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.6 % of GDPNA
Female population of reproductive age18.20M personsā˜…16,328.95 persons
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate3.12 %10.07 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.52 male/female104.05 male/femaleā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate27.7747,200ā˜…
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people52,000 peopleā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.65 %ā˜…36.31 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %ā˜…73.65 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq kmNA
Population Growth Rate1.06 %ā˜…-0.58 %
Population living in slums23.64 %ā˜…1.1 %
Total deaths540,582.7 persons1,264.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %ā˜…61.13 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per womanā˜…2.05 per woman
Total net-migration39,599.6 personsā˜…-454.4 persons
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births5.16 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.34 %ā˜…-0.5 %

Transportation

2 metrics
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Airports573ā˜…2
Heliports49ā˜…4

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡æšŸ‡¦ South AfricašŸ‡»šŸ‡® United States Virgin IslandsShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita2.19B USDā˜…1.00B USD

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs United States Virgin Islands

Which has a larger population, South Africa or United States Virgin Islands?ā–¾

South Africa. South Africa has 785 times as many people as United States Virgin Islands (65.49 million vs 83,372). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or United States Virgin Islands?ā–¾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 78.4 times the size of United States Virgin Islands's ($424.75 billion vs $5.42 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, South Africa or United States Virgin Islands?ā–¾

United States Virgin Islands is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $65,019 in United States Virgin Islands vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons