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Bangladesh vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bangladesh has a population of 174M (ranked 8/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Bangladesh's land area is 50,186 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 94th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Bangladesh ranks 36/197 ($450B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Bangladesh ranks 146/197 ($2,593), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Bangladesh South Africa
Population
178415186
65683993
Population rank 8/197 24/197
GDP
$450B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 36/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$2,593
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 146/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,647
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$184B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
41%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,063
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 139/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,222
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 50,186 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
3,544 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.16
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
26.7 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Bangladesh and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Bangladesh and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Bangladesh South Africa
2024 $450,119,432,069 $401,144,998,374
2023 $437,415,333,018 $381,440,724,491
2022 $460,131,689,083 $407,596,043,068
2021 $416,271,647,911 $419,986,284,375
2020 $373,979,442,362 $337,974,655,408
2019 $351,231,654,604 $389,330,032,224
2018 $321,362,752,442 $405,260,723,893
2017 $293,732,446,625 $381,448,814,653
2016 $265,224,515,675 $323,585,509,674
2015 $195,146,608,978 $346,709,790,459
2014 $172,886,611,654 $381,198,869,776
2013 $149,998,957,434 $400,886,013,596
2012 $133,310,747,603 $434,400,545,086
2011 $128,607,482,310 $458,199,494,831
2010 $115,275,540,051 $417,363,822,802
2009 $102,475,158,191 $329,754,060,647
2008 $91,636,997,371 $316,131,258,616
2007 $79,611,644,975 $333,077,117,254
2006 $71,795,736,172 $303,858,675,364
2005 $69,476,001,239 $288,867,217,197
2004 $65,108,544,250 $255,806,908,595
2003 $60,158,929,188 $197,018,965,309
2002 $54,724,081,491 $129,087,556,612
2001 $53,991,289,844 $135,429,905,923
2000 $53,369,787,319 $151,752,757,215
1999 $51,270,569,884 $151,516,957,079
1998 $49,984,559,471 $152,982,984,557
1997 $48,244,309,133 $168,978,057,328
1996 $46,438,484,108 $163,234,925,381
1995 $37,939,748,769 $171,735,933,897
1994 $33,768,660,883 $153,512,712,382
1993 $33,166,519,418 $147,194,747,566
1992 $31,708,874,594 $146,956,150,987
1991 $30,957,483,950 $135,203,698,238
1990 $31,598,340,778 $126,048,140,142
1989 $28,781,715,189 $108,055,624,082
1988 $26,579,005,558 $103,976,831,871
1987 $24,298,032,258 $96,535,763,418
1986 $21,774,033,333 $73,354,771,399
1985 $22,278,423,077 $64,459,376,087
1984 $18,920,840,000 $84,870,163,366
1983 $17,609,048,822 $96,204,110,942
1982 $18,525,399,202 $85,904,057,409
1981 $20,249,694,002 $93,141,472,164
1980 $18,138,049,096 $89,411,864,402
1979 $15,565,480,322 $63,038,658,089
1978 $13,281,767,143 $51,607,412,902
1977 $9,651,149,302 $45,328,411,332
1976 $10,117,113,333 $41,150,460,288
1975 $19,448,348,073 $42,906,905,672
1974 $12,512,460,520 $41,389,186,095
1973 $8,086,725,729 $33,262,772,008
1972 $6,288,245,867 $24,515,919,217
1971 $8,751,843,188 $23,411,076,638
1970 $8,992,722,167 $21,218,391,513
1969 $8,471,006,438 $19,256,992,297
1968 $7,483,685,771 $17,124,793,150
1967 $7,253,575,688 $15,821,393,671
1966 $6,439,687,854 $14,211,394,315
1965 $5,906,636,792 $13,068,994,772
1964 $5,386,054,833 $11,955,995,218
1963 $5,319,458,563 $10,854,195,658
1962 $5,081,413,542 $9,813,996,074
1961 $4,817,580,375 $9,225,996,310
1960 $4,274,894,083 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Bangladesh and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Bangladesh South Africa
2024 $2,593 $6,267
2023 $2,551 $6,034
2022 $2,716 $6,534
2021 $2,483 $6,829
2020 $2,249 $5,581
2019 $2,130 $6,534
2018 $1,965 $6,914
2017 $1,811 $6,618
2016 $1,649 $5,651
2015 $1,224 $6,112
2014 $1,094 $6,857
2013 $958 $7,332
2012 $860 $8,077
2011 $837 $8,646
2010 $757 $7,973
2009 $679 $6,375
2008 $613 $6,185
2007 $538 $6,592
2006 $490 $6,077
2005 $480 $5,837
2004 $456 $5,221
2003 $427 $4,062
2002 $394 $2,688
2001 $395 $2,847
2000 $397 $3,218
1999 $388 $3,242
1998 $386 $3,310
1997 $379 $3,700
1996 $372 $3,618
1995 $309 $3,856
1994 $280.6 $3,489
1993 $280.8 $3,400
1992 $273.5 $3,462
1991 $272.1 $3,243
1990 $283.1 $3,093
1989 $263 $2,727
1988 $247.9 $2,702
1987 $231.5 $2,586
1986 $212.1 $2,027
1985 $222.2 $1,839
1984 $193.4 $2,504
1983 $184.7 $2,938
1982 $199.6 $2,717
1981 $224.2 $3,050
1980 $206.1 $3,029
1979 $181.1 $2,202
1978 $158.3 $1,852
1977 $117.9 $1,671
1976 $126.7 $1,559
1975 $249.8 $1,670
1974 $165 $1,656
1973 $109.7 $1,369
1972 $87.8 $1,038
1971 $124.5 $1,020
1970 $130.2 $952
1969 $125.9 $891
1968 $114.4 $817
1967 $114.2 $779
1966 $104.4 $722
1965 $98.6 $685
1964 $92.6 $646
1963 $94.1 $605
1962 $92.6 $563
1961 $90.4 $546
1960 $82.5 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Bangladesh vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Bangladesh South Africa
2026 75.5 66.7
2025 75.2 66.5
2024 74.9 66.3
2023 74.7 66.1
2022 74.3 65.5
2021 71.1 62
2020 71.4 65.2
2019 72.6 66.1
2018 72.1 65.7
2017 71.6 65.4
2016 71.1 64.7
2015 70.5 64.1
2014 70 63.2
2013 69.5 62.4
2012 69 61.7
2011 68.5 60.6
2010 68 58.9
2009 67.5 57.4
2008 67 56
2007 66.5 54.9
2006 66 54.2
2005 65.5 53.9
2004 64.9 54
2003 64.3 54.2
2002 63.6 55.6
2001 62.8 57.2
2000 62 58.4
1999 61.2 59.2
1998 60.4 59.9
1997 59.7 60.5
1996 58.9 61.1
1995 58.2 61.6
1994 57.6 62.1
1993 57.1 62.6
1992 56.6 62.8
1991 53.8 63
1990 55.8 62.9
1989 55.5 63
1988 55.2 62.9
1987 54.9 62.7
1986 54.6 62.4
1985 53.9 62.2
1984 53.8 61.8
1983 53.4 61.4
1982 53 60.9
1981 52.6 60.4
1980 52.3 60
1979 52 59.5
1978 51.6 59
1977 51.3 58.5
1976 51 58
1975 50.6 57.6
1974 49.6 57.1
1973 49.9 56.7
1972 49.6 56.4
1971 26.5 56
1970 42.7 55.7
1969 48.7 55.4
1968 48.4 55.2
1967 48.1 55
1966 47.6 54.7
1965 46 54.4
1964 46.8 54.2
1963 45.7 53.9
1962 45.8 53.6
1961 44.9 53.1
1960 44 52.6
1959 43.7 51.9
1958 43.1 51.1
1957 42.6 50.2
1956 41.6 49.2
1955 41.1 48.2
1954 40.4 47.1
1953 39.4 46.1
1952 38.8 45
1951 38.1 44.1
1950 37.4 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Bangladesh and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Bangladesh South Africa
2024 173,562,364 64,007,187
2023 171,466,990 63,212,384
2022 169,384,897 62,378,410
2021 167,658,854 61,502,603
2020 166,298,024 60,562,381
2019 164,913,055 59,587,885
2018 163,523,103 58,613,001
2017 162,186,147 57,635,162
2016 160,811,932 57,259,551
2015 159,383,179 56,723,537
2014 157,964,929 55,594,838
2013 156,532,141 54,678,791
2012 155,070,101 53,782,567
2011 153,591,076 52,995,205
2010 152,201,981 52,344,051
2009 150,873,714 51,728,516
2008 149,474,264 51,114,599
2007 147,989,278 50,528,584
2006 146,405,973 49,998,277
2005 144,715,786 49,490,033
2004 142,902,856 48,991,421
2003 140,970,351 48,500,348
2002 138,933,658 48,019,415
2001 136,805,810 47,566,800
2000 134,544,304 47,159,719
1999 132,108,065 46,730,335
1998 129,622,332 46,223,880
1997 127,198,069 45,666,838
1996 124,862,179 45,123,018
1995 122,600,370 44,541,554
1994 120,343,179 44,004,139
1993 118,132,360 43,297,156
1992 115,952,192 42,443,509
1991 113,787,109 41,687,898
1990 111,633,717 40,746,268
1989 109,433,799 39,628,575
1988 107,216,008 38,480,649
1987 104,959,291 37,326,190
1986 102,635,572 36,180,515
1985 100,253,825 35,042,093
1984 97,814,966 33,892,788
1983 95,335,155 32,739,304
1982 92,814,507 31,615,339
1981 90,303,105 30,541,044
1980 88,016,432 29,518,857
1979 85,935,072 28,634,162
1978 83,889,655 27,869,507
1977 81,867,264 27,118,952
1976 79,855,318 26,395,450
1975 77,854,351 25,690,940
1974 75,839,348 24,989,108
1973 73,722,294 24,294,263
1972 71,641,519 23,609,456
1971 70,276,758 22,942,143
1970 69,058,894 22,279,984
1969 67,294,133 21,614,676
1968 65,408,276 20,957,287
1967 63,510,929 20,314,066
1966 61,669,806 19,690,087
1965 59,902,519 19,089,380
1964 58,178,374 18,511,361
1963 56,504,402 17,954,564
1962 54,881,146 17,418,522
1961 53,310,348 16,908,035
1960 51,828,660 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Bangladesh and South Africa

Fertility rate
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bangladesh South Africa
2023 2.16 2.22
2022 2.18 2.23
2021 2.17 2.25
2020 2.17 2.26
2019 2.18 2.26
2018 2.19 2.27
2017 2.21 2.28
2016 2.23 2.26
2015 2.23 2.36
2014 2.23 2.42
2013 2.25 2.43
2012 2.26 2.45
2011 2.31 2.44
2010 2.38 2.44
2009 2.48 2.5
2008 2.58 2.68
2007 2.67 2.55
2006 2.76 2.55
2005 2.85 2.51
2004 2.94 2.44
2003 3.03 2.36
2002 3.13 2.32
2001 3.2 2.37
2000 3.28 2.41
1999 3.36 2.56
1998 3.43 2.63
1997 3.5 2.73
1996 3.51 2.99
1995 3.59 3.17
1994 3.74 3.26
1993 3.83 3.37
1992 4.03 3.48
1991 4.26 3.62
1990 4.51 3.72
1989 4.7 3.98
1988 4.85 4.18
1987 5.08 4.35
1986 5.3 4.41
1985 5.54 4.5
1984 5.73 4.57
1983 5.91 4.63
1982 6.12 4.7
1981 6.24 4.71
1980 6.33 4.78
1979 6.42 4.82
1978 6.51 4.85
1977 6.58 4.94
1976 6.66 5.07
1975 6.73 5.19
1974 6.78 5.3
1973 6.8 5.41
1972 6.82 5.49
1971 6.83 5.57
1970 6.84 5.63
1969 6.81 5.72
1968 6.79 5.78
1967 6.79 5.85
1966 6.77 5.91
1965 6.77 5.89
1964 6.79 5.96
1963 6.8 6.01
1962 6.81 6.05
1961 6.78 6.08
1960 6.74 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Bangladesh and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Bangladesh

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Bangladesh South Africa
2024 26.7 29.5
2023 26.4 29.2
2022 26 28.9
2021 25.8 28.6
2020 25.6 28.3
2019 25.4 27.9
2018 25.2 27.5
2017 25 27
2016 24.8 26.7
2015 24.5 26.4
2014 24.2 26
2013 23.8 25.7
2012 23.5 25.3
2011 23.2 25
2010 22.9 24.6
2009 22.7 24.3
2008 22.4 24
2007 22.2 23.8
2006 22 23.5
2005 21.8 23.3
2004 21.6 23.1
2003 21.4 22.8
2002 21.2 22.4
2001 21 22.2
2000 20.7 21.9
1999 20.4 21.6
1998 20.2 21.4
1997 19.9 21.2
1996 19.7 21.2
1995 19.5 21.5
1994 19.3 22
1993 19.1 21.9
1992 18.9 21.5
1991 18.7 21.5
1990 18.5 21.3
1989 18.4 21.1
1988 18.2 20.9
1987 18 20.7
1986 17.9 20.5
1985 17.8 20.4
1984 17.7 20.2
1983 17.7 20
1982 17.6 19.8
1981 17.6 19.6
1980 17.6 19.4
1979 17.6 19.3
1978 17.6 19.2
1977 17.5 19.1
1976 17.5 19
1975 17.5 18.9
1974 17.5 18.9
1973 17.6 18.8
1972 17.7 18.8
1971 17.8 18.8
1970 17.9 18.8
1969 18 18.8
1968 18.2 18.8
1967 18.3 18.8
1966 18.4 18.8
1965 18.5 18.8
1964 18.6 18.9
1963 18.7 18.9
1962 18.8 18.9
1961 18.9 19
1960 19 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bangladesh/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Bangladesh and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Bangladesh South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$490B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.03%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.94%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
227,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.69%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
34.1%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.8
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
0
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
691
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$87.9B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$21.4B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$27.5B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
323,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.57%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
43.3%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Bangladesh South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
297.1 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.4
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
124.2 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.72 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
83.1%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
25%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.28%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
44.3%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
603 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
1.5%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.77%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
99.5%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Bangladesh South Africa
% of world population
2.14%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-402,100
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
32.7%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.2:50.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.42 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
37.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
24
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
63
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.34
2018
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
47
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
79%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
12%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
44.5%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Bangladesh South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$53.5
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$42.4
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
75.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
3.5%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.72
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
18.6 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
115
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
30.6
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
5.41%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.2%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
2
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
32.9%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.09 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Bangladesh South Africa
% of world land
0.09%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
289.2 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
36,290 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
7,272 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
229,351 mi
2018
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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