South Africa vs Venezuela: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 164 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 2.3 times as many people as Venezuela (65.49 million vs 28.63 million). South Africa's economy is 2.6 times the size of Venezuela's ($424.75 billion vs $162.01 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Venezuela: South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Venezuela (2.38); South Africa leads on Oil Exports (54,930) against Venezuela (1.87); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Venezuela (100,000). Across 164 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 86 and Venezuela wins on 68.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 60 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 36 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 12.94 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 %★ | 76.68 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 56.17 % | 61.6 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 62% (2017 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 12.94 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 29.21 points | |
| Radios | 17★ | 10.75 | |
| Televisions | 6★ | 4.1 | |
| Waterways | NA | 7,100 |
Economy
60 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | -3.55M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | -49,292.19 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 25.99 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 76.73★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 2,174.37 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 | most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 56.77 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 56.8 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 227 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35★ | 1.33 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species★ | 37 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 0.83 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 204.72★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 215,000 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 882,050 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km | 2,800 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 5,928.85 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 10,550 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 0.52 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 23★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 10 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 10 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 5 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 2.07 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 259 per 100,000 | 113 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 10★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 123,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.94 %★ | 2.23 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 343,000★ |
People and Society
36 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.06 | |
| Airports | 573★ | 509 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90★ | 56 | |
| Heliports | 49 | 88★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 8.81B USD★ | 546.00M USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7 % | 58.91 %★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Venezuela
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Venezuela?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 2.3 times as many people as Venezuela (65.49 million vs 28.63 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Venezuela?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 2.6 times the size of Venezuela's ($424.75 billion vs $162.01 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Venezuela?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $5,659 in Venezuela (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).