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South Africa vs Zambia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

South Africa
zaf
Leads on 105 of 169 metrics
Zambia
zmb
Leads on 56 of 169 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 2.9 times as many people as Zambia (65.49 million vs 22.51 million). South Africa's economy is 13.1 times the size of Zambia's ($424.75 billion vs $32.38 billion GDP).

Comparing South Africa and Zambia: Zambia leads on Televisions (277,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against Zambia (252.41 cases per 1,000); South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against Zambia (190). Across 169 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 105 and Zambia wins on 56.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 63 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★0.79 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)78.36 %★17.1 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)75.46 %★15 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 76% (2023 est.)percent of population: 33% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed5.35 Mbps★0.79 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score75.71 points★57.33 points
Radios17★1.2
Televisions6277,000★
WaterwaysNA2,250

Economy

63 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country14.21B $★826.47M $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars424.75B $★32.38B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)14.07 %23.79 %★
Apple Import Volume48,832 tonnes12.68M tonnes★
Bank Account Ownership Rate81.13 %★72.7 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.75 %9.1 %★
Coal Revenue2.4★0.04
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.38 %12.5 %★
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★4.9 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index59.6★56.9
Electricity Consumption207.1★11.04
Electricity Exports16.55★1.18
Electricity from Fossil Fuels85★5
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants193★
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels4★0
Electricity from Other Renewables10★2
Electricity Imports10.56★2.19
Electricity Installed Capacity50.02★2.57
Electricity Production234.5★11.55
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)86.2 USD per capita★8.27 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate55.4 %56.75 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage9.52 %16.52 %★
Gender Wage Gap9.52 %★16.52 %
Gini Index Coefficient63★51.5
Gross Fixed Investment19.520.5★
Gross National Saving16.138.3★
High-Tech Export Percentage45.27 %★29.3 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries13,592.05 USD★3,742.26 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.4 %3.5 %★
Inflation Rate3.21 %★13.91 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.4 %★15 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.7 % of GDP1.3 % of GDP★
Natural Gas Consumption5.07★0
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports4.16★0
Natural Gas Production906.1★0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption553,000★16,000
Oil Exports54,930★360
Oil Imports521,400★17,570
Oil Production192,100★190
Oil Proved Reserves15★0
Population Below Poverty Line55.5 people★60 people
Public Debt76.271.4★
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.81 %★0.28 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.6 USD4 USD★
Real Interest Rate Trends2.2 %★-3.89 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption621,000★23,000
Refined Petroleum Products Exports105,600★371
Refined Petroleum Products Imports195,200★10,150
Refined Petroleum Products Production487,100★13,120
Remittances0.20.9★
Researchers in R&D per Million381.59 researchers★41.9 researchers
Robotics Research Funding0.81 USD★0.28 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)29.54★71.37
Tax Burden (% of GDP)25.88 %18.83 %★
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)25.88 % of GDP★18.83 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues26★16.8
Top Exporting Countries127.53B USD★8.85B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.58 %9.32 %★
Unemployment Rate33.2 %6 %★
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.58 %★61.93 %
Youth Unemployment Rate59.93 %10.47 %★

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)3.23M212,572★
Annual Forest Area Change Rate87,566.02 %★-97,156.25 %
Average Annual Temperature18.35 °C22.02 °C★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions446.79.88★
Global Precipitation Distribution652.17 mm1,119.99 mm★
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 mapone of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation9.88 sq km41.3 sq km★
Protected Land Area Percentage9.6 %41.3 %★
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.8 Cubic meters per year47 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources51.35104.8★
Total Threatened Mammal Species33 species13 species★

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.94 %★0.63 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)85.66★44
Agricultural land963,410 sq. km★238,390 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.21M★743,390
Coastline Length (km)2,798 km★0 km
Dam capacity per capita464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant4,402.19 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land16,700★1,560

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country61.59 %★30.99 %
Administrative Divisions910★
Corruption Perception Index41 index39 index★
Corruption Perceptions Index Score41 index★39 index
Independence31★24
LGBT Rights Index Score10.94★-0.63
Prison Population Rate259 per 100,000109 per 100,000★
Public Sector Corruption Perception4139★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Average BMI for Adults25 kg/m²★21.3 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate76 %88 %★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)7.210.3★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders66.31 years66.53 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.87 per 1,000 births1.4 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita1,541.18 USD★237.75 USD
Health Coverage Index Score74 score★62 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.3 % of GDP★6.6 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy66.31 years66.53 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate18.3 %10.8 %★
Hospital Bed Density2.3 people/sq km★2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita2.25 beds per 1,000★2 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence16.64 %11.25 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate0.11 cases per 1,000★252.41 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)118 %85 %★
Mean Age at First Birth22.5★19.2
Nurses and Midwives Density6.39 per 1,000 people★2.94 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.3 %8.1 %★
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending6.69 %★10.29 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS7.81.5★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People2 per 100,000 people★0 per 100,000 people
Total Number of Doctors0.79★0.32
Underweight Children Under 54.9★11.8

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Active Military Personnel74,000 personnel★15,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.74 %★1.26 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)89,000★16,000

People and Society

38 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Currently married (Percent)33.25 %52.13 %★
Human Capital Index0.42★0.41
Life expectancy at birth71.98 years★70.69 years
Median age of population29 years★18.13 years
Population Change673,269.7 persons★624,260.3 persons
Population density53.74 per sq. km30.24 per sq. km★
Total population65.49M persons★22.51M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.830.84★
Beer Consumption per Capita3.65 liters★1.19 liters
Birth Rate (%)17.21 %29.6 %★
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate54.6 %★49.6 %
Crude Birth Rate18.48 per 1,000 people32.72 per 1,000 people★
Death Rate (%)6.56 %4.91 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP★4.1 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age18.20M persons★5.74M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)21.13 %★3.41 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate5.35 %★0.79 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.52 male/female★100.39 male/female
Human Development Index0.48★0.28
Labor Force Participation Rate27.77★7.41
Learning-adjusted years of school4.88 years★4.64 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population10.32 people★3.18 people
Mean Male Height (cm)166.68★166.52
Mean Years of Schooling10.47 years★8.37 years
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio9.65 %3.38 %★
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.63 %★55.41 %
Physician Density0.79 people/sq km★0.32 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate1.06 %2.51 %★
Population living in slums23.64 %45.09 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio30.33★42.74
Total deaths540,582.7 persons103,544 persons★
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.02 %★52.58 %
Total fertility rate2.17 per woman3.9 per woman★
Total net-migration39,599.6 persons★8,443.7 persons
Under-five mortality rate28.89 per live births★47.18 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.34 %3.75 %★

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.37★0.05
Airports573★120
Civil Air Travel90★12
Heliports49★4

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita5.96B USD★800.66M USD

Other

1 metric
Metric🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 ZambiaShare
Current Bank Rate7 %13.5 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Zambia

Which has a larger population, South Africa or Zambia?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 2.9 times as many people as Zambia (65.49 million vs 22.51 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Zambia?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 13.1 times the size of Zambia's ($424.75 billion vs $32.38 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, South Africa or Zambia?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,438 in Zambia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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