South Africa vs Vietnam: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 175 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Vietnam has 56% more people than South Africa (102.21 million vs 65.49 million). Vietnam's economy is 27% larger than South Africa's ($538.13 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Vietnam: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Vietnam (250,000); South Africa leads on Natural Gas Production (906.10) against Vietnam (8.10); Vietnam leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.01 cases per 1,000) against South Africa (0.84 cases per 1,000). Across 175 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 81 and Vietnam wins on 84.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 64 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 23.71 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 % | 84.15 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 % | 78.08 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 78% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps | 23.71 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 19.74 points | |
| Radios | 17★ | 8.2 | |
| Televisions | 6★ | 3.57 | |
| Waterways | NA | 17,702 |
Economy
64 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M★ | 23.53M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | 22,572.07 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 23.97 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 305.4★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | edge of continental margin or 200 nm; | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 2,376.58 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 | though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) h | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km★ | 7.6 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 %★ | 7.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 71.42 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35 | 884.12★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species★ | 63 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 % | 17.75 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 62.71 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 125,053 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 313,429 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km | 3,444 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 432.08 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700 | 46,000★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 47.72 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 58★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 40 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 40 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 2 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | 2.07 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 286 per 100,000 | 135 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 40★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 482,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 %★ | 2.15 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 522,000★ |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37 | 0.46★ | |
| Airports | 573★ | 36 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90 | controlled by military | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 26 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 2.19B USD★ | 149.00M USD |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 7 %★ | 4.5 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Vietnam
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Vietnam?▾
Vietnam. Vietnam has 56% more people than South Africa (102.21 million vs 65.49 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Vietnam?▾
Vietnam. Vietnam's economy is 27% larger than South Africa's ($538.13 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Vietnam?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $5,265 in Vietnam (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).