South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 170 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 3.8 times as many people as Zimbabwe (65.49 million vs 17.27 million). South Africa's economy is 9.7 times the size of Zimbabwe's ($424.75 billion vs $43.77 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe leads on Televisions (370,000) against South Africa (6); Zimbabwe leads on Apple Import Volume (11.73 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against Zimbabwe (11.36 cases per 1,000). Across 170 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 108 and Zimbabwe wins on 53.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 62 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 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: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 1.94 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 78.36 %★ | 41.64 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 75.66 %★ | 38.43 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 38% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 5.35 Mbps★ | 1.94 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 52.1 points | |
| Radios | 17★ | 1.14 | |
| Televisions | 6 | 370,000★ | |
| Waterways | NA | chrome ore is transported from Harare - by way of the Mazoe River - to the Zambezi River in Mozambique |
Economy
62 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 257,859★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | -53,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 21.8 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 446.7 | 12.58★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm | 939.53 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 | aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km | 28.85 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 % | 28.3 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | 6 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 51.35★ | 20 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 10 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 0.77 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66 | 94.98★ | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km★ | 161,637 sq. km | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M★ | 386,850 | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,798 km★ | 0 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | 5,789.94 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700★ | 1,740 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 14.23 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9★ | 8 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 21 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 21 index | |
| Independence | 31★ | 18 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | -2.36 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 260 per 100,000 | 150 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 21★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | 29,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.74 % | 0.56 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000★ | 51,000 |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.07 | |
| Airports | 573★ | 144 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 90★ | 12 | |
| Heliports | 49★ | 5 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 5.96B USD★ | 155.49M USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Zimbabwe
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Zimbabwe?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 3.8 times as many people as Zimbabwe (65.49 million vs 17.27 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Zimbabwe?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 9.7 times the size of Zimbabwe's ($424.75 billion vs $43.77 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Zimbabwe?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $2,535 in Zimbabwe (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).