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Australia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Australia has a population of 27.2M (ranked 54/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Australia's land area is 2,969,906 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 6th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Australia ranks 14/197 ($1.76T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Australia ranks 14/197 ($64,604), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Australia South Africa
Population
27799169
65683993
Population rank 55/197 24/197
GDP
$1.76T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 14/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$64,604
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 14/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$72,111
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$891B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.7%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$32,764
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 22/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$49,463
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 2,969,906 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
9.34 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
39 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Australia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Australia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Australia South Africa
2024 $1,757,022,451,653 $401,144,998,374
2023 $1,734,451,264,656 $381,440,724,491
2022 $1,695,627,535,476 $407,596,043,068
2021 $1,560,617,493,203 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,333,336,461,648 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,398,349,602,956 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,433,144,978,762 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,330,890,554,614 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,211,588,128,418 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,356,805,839,936 $346,709,790,459
2014 $1,474,677,007,566 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,583,737,461,925 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,552,728,401,402 $434,400,545,086
2011 $1,402,939,868,653 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,152,566,632,022 $417,363,822,802
2009 $931,761,689,771 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,058,448,244,064 $316,131,258,616
2007 $856,603,595,823 $333,077,117,254
2006 $749,708,370,333 $303,858,675,364
2005 $696,811,489,613 $288,867,217,197
2004 $615,643,050,221 $255,806,908,595
2003 $468,517,181,130 $197,018,965,309
2002 $396,436,967,263 $129,087,556,612
2001 $380,360,222,861 $135,429,905,923
2000 $416,901,962,163 $151,752,757,215
1999 $390,347,787,943 $151,516,957,079
1998 $400,361,527,505 $152,982,984,557
1997 $436,321,902,767 $168,978,057,328
1996 $401,962,517,479 $163,234,925,381
1995 $368,725,126,225 $171,735,933,897
1994 $323,269,456,935 $153,512,712,382
1993 $312,568,858,910 $147,194,747,566
1992 $325,982,966,981 $146,956,150,987
1991 $326,416,407,861 $135,203,698,238
1990 $311,840,666,465 $126,048,140,142
1989 $300,264,309,002 $108,055,624,082
1988 $236,461,079,970 $103,976,831,871
1987 $189,726,707,253 $96,535,763,418
1986 $182,707,050,923 $73,354,771,399
1985 $180,861,108,959 $64,459,376,087
1984 $193,749,932,078 $84,870,163,366
1983 $177,523,719,680 $96,204,110,942
1982 $194,323,071,831 $85,904,057,409
1981 $177,151,979,566 $93,141,472,164
1980 $150,200,557,103 $89,411,864,402
1979 $135,093,718,051 $63,038,658,089
1978 $118,660,813,780 $51,607,412,902
1977 $110,504,702,914 $45,328,411,332
1976 $105,209,354,856 $41,150,460,288
1975 $97,440,939,506 $42,906,905,672
1974 $89,086,219,602 $41,389,186,095
1973 $63,923,126,201 $33,262,772,008
1972 $52,117,990,654 $24,515,919,217
1971 $45,283,847,245 $23,411,076,638
1970 $41,395,206,623 $21,218,391,513
1969 $36,738,245,878 $19,256,992,297
1968 $32,763,365,242 $17,124,793,150
1967 $30,487,524,878 $15,821,393,671
1966 $27,349,284,376 $14,211,394,315
1965 $26,014,244,162 $13,068,994,772
1964 $23,835,843,814 $11,955,995,218
1963 $21,573,443,452 $10,854,195,658
1962 $19,953,923,193 $9,813,996,074
1961 $19,713,123,154 $9,225,996,310
1960 $18,635,682,982 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Australia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Australia South Africa
2024 $64,604 $6,267
2023 $65,058 $6,034
2022 $65,170 $6,534
2021 $60,759 $6,829
2020 $51,983 $5,581
2019 $55,195 $6,534
2018 $57,410 $6,914
2017 $54,118 $6,618
2016 $50,084 $5,651
2015 $56,970 $6,112
2014 $62,817 $6,857
2013 $68,477 $7,332
2012 $68,301 $8,077
2011 $62,799 $8,646
2010 $52,314 $7,973
2009 $42,955 $6,375
2008 $49,811 $6,185
2007 $41,128 $6,592
2006 $36,659 $6,077
2005 $34,535 $5,837
2004 $30,886 $5,221
2003 $23,758 $4,062
2002 $20,335 $2,688
2001 $19,734 $2,847
2000 $21,909 $3,218
1999 $20,750 $3,242
1998 $21,516 $3,310
1997 $23,683 $3,700
1996 $22,056 $3,618
1995 $20,479 $3,856
1994 $18,156 $3,489
1993 $17,725 $3,400
1992 $18,650 $3,462
1991 $18,885 $3,243
1990 $18,274 $3,093
1989 $17,858 $2,727
1988 $14,303 $2,702
1987 $11,666 $2,586
1986 $11,406 $2,027
1985 $11,455 $1,839
1984 $12,436 $2,504
1983 $11,532 $2,938
1982 $12,798 $2,717
1981 $11,871 $3,050
1980 $10,223 $3,029
1979 $9,308 $2,202
1978 $8,264 $1,852
1977 $7,786 $1,671
1976 $7,497 $1,559
1975 $7,014 $1,670
1974 $6,492 $1,656
1973 $4,778 $1,369
1972 $3,955 $1,038
1971 $3,500 $1,020
1970 $3,310 $952
1969 $2,996 $891
1968 $2,728 $817
1967 $2,584 $779
1966 $2,347 $722
1965 $2,284 $685
1964 $2,134 $646
1963 $1,970 $605
1962 $1,858 $563
1961 $1,880 $546
1960 $1,813 $532

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

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

Australia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Australia South Africa
2026 84.3 66.7
2025 84.2 66.5
2024 84.1 66.3
2023 83.9 66.1
2022 82.8 65.5
2021 83.6 62
2020 83.7 65.2
2019 83.2 66.1
2018 83.3 65.7
2017 82.7 65.4
2016 82.8 64.7
2015 82.6 64.1
2014 82.5 63.2
2013 82.6 62.4
2012 82.3 61.7
2011 82.1 60.6
2010 82 58.9
2009 81.7 57.4
2008 81.4 56
2007 81.2 54.9
2006 81.3 54.2
2005 81.1 53.9
2004 80.7 54
2003 80.4 54.2
2002 80.1 55.6
2001 80 57.2
2000 79.6 58.4
1999 79.3 59.2
1998 79 59.9
1997 78.6 60.5
1996 78.3 61.1
1995 78.3 61.6
1994 77.9 62.1
1993 78 62.6
1992 77.5 62.8
1991 77.5 63
1990 77 62.9
1989 76.2 63
1988 76.3 62.9
1987 76.1 62.7
1986 76.1 62.4
1985 75.4 62.2
1984 75.5 61.8
1983 75.4 61.4
1982 74.7 60.9
1981 74.8 60.4
1980 74.6 60
1979 74.3 59.5
1978 73.7 59
1977 73.5 58.5
1976 72.8 58
1975 72.8 57.6
1974 71.8 57.1
1973 72.1 56.7
1972 71.8 56.4
1971 71.5 56
1970 70.7 55.7
1969 71.1 55.4
1968 70.7 55.2
1967 71 55
1966 70.7 54.7
1965 70.8 54.4
1964 70.6 54.2
1963 71 53.9
1962 70.9 53.6
1961 71.1 53.1
1960 70.9 52.6
1959 70.4 51.9
1958 70.9 51.1
1957 70.3 50.2
1956 70 49.2
1955 70.2 48.2
1954 69.9 47.1
1953 69.7 46.1
1952 69.1 45
1951 68.7 44.1
1950 69 43.1

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

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

Australia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Australia South Africa
2024 27,196,812 64,007,187
2023 26,659,922 63,212,384
2022 26,018,721 62,378,410
2021 25,685,412 61,502,603
2020 25,649,248 60,562,381
2019 25,334,826 59,587,885
2018 24,963,258 58,613,001
2017 24,592,588 57,635,162
2016 24,190,907 57,259,551
2015 23,815,995 56,723,537
2014 23,475,686 55,594,838
2013 23,128,129 54,678,791
2012 22,733,465 53,782,567
2011 22,340,024 52,995,205
2010 22,031,750 52,344,051
2009 21,691,653 51,728,516
2008 21,249,199 51,114,599
2007 20,827,622 50,528,584
2006 20,450,966 49,998,277
2005 20,176,844 49,490,033
2004 19,932,722 48,991,421
2003 19,720,737 48,500,348
2002 19,495,210 48,019,415
2001 19,274,701 47,566,800
2000 19,028,802 47,159,719
1999 18,812,264 46,730,335
1998 18,607,584 46,223,880
1997 18,423,037 45,666,838
1996 18,224,767 45,123,018
1995 18,004,882 44,541,554
1994 17,805,468 44,004,139
1993 17,634,808 43,297,156
1992 17,478,635 42,443,509
1991 17,284,036 41,687,898
1990 17,065,128 40,746,268
1989 16,814,416 39,628,575
1988 16,532,164 38,480,649
1987 16,263,874 37,326,190
1986 16,018,350 36,180,515
1985 15,788,312 35,042,093
1984 15,579,391 33,892,788
1983 15,393,472 32,739,304
1982 15,184,247 31,615,339
1981 14,923,260 30,541,044
1980 14,692,000 29,518,857
1979 14,514,000 28,634,162
1978 14,358,000 27,869,507
1977 14,192,000 27,118,952
1976 14,033,000 26,395,450
1975 13,893,000 25,690,940
1974 13,723,000 24,989,108
1973 13,380,000 24,294,263
1972 13,177,000 23,609,456
1971 12,937,000 22,942,143
1970 12,507,000 22,279,984
1969 12,263,000 21,614,676
1968 12,009,000 20,957,287
1967 11,799,000 20,314,066
1966 11,651,000 19,690,087
1965 11,388,000 19,089,380
1964 11,167,000 18,511,361
1963 10,950,000 17,954,564
1962 10,742,000 17,418,522
1961 10,483,000 16,908,035
1960 10,276,477 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Australia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Australia South Africa
2023 1.5 2.22
2022 1.63 2.23
2021 1.7 2.25
2020 1.58 2.26
2019 1.66 2.26
2018 1.74 2.27
2017 1.74 2.28
2016 1.75 2.26
2015 1.81 2.36
2014 1.83 2.42
2013 1.86 2.43
2012 1.92 2.45
2011 1.93 2.44
2010 1.93 2.44
2009 1.97 2.5
2008 1.98 2.68
2007 1.96 2.55
2006 1.91 2.55
2005 1.81 2.51
2004 1.77 2.44
2003 1.75 2.36
2002 1.76 2.32
2001 1.74 2.37
2000 1.76 2.41
1999 1.76 2.56
1998 1.76 2.63
1997 1.78 2.73
1996 1.8 2.99
1995 1.82 3.17
1994 1.84 3.26
1993 1.86 3.37
1992 1.89 3.48
1991 1.85 3.62
1990 1.9 3.72
1989 1.84 3.98
1988 1.83 4.18
1987 1.85 4.35
1986 1.87 4.41
1985 1.92 4.5
1984 1.84 4.57
1983 1.92 4.63
1982 1.93 4.7
1981 1.94 4.71
1980 1.89 4.78
1979 1.91 4.82
1978 1.95 4.85
1977 2.01 4.94
1976 2.06 5.07
1975 2.15 5.19
1974 2.4 5.3
1973 2.49 5.41
1972 2.74 5.49
1971 2.96 5.57
1970 2.86 5.63
1969 2.89 5.72
1968 2.89 5.78
1967 2.85 5.85
1966 2.88 5.91
1965 2.98 5.89
1964 3.15 5.96
1963 3.33 6.01
1962 3.44 6.05
1961 3.54 6.08
1960 3.45 6.11

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

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

Australia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Australia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Australia South Africa
2024 39 29.5
2023 38.8 29.2
2022 38.5 28.9
2021 38.3 28.6
2020 38 28.3
2019 37.6 27.9
2018 37.4 27.5
2017 37.4 27
2016 37.3 26.7
2015 37.3 26.4
2014 37.3 26
2013 37.2 25.7
2012 37.2 25.3
2011 37.1 25
2010 37 24.6
2009 36.9 24.3
2008 36.8 24
2007 36.8 23.8
2006 36.7 23.5
2005 36.5 23.3
2004 36.3 23.1
2003 36.1 22.8
2002 35.8 22.4
2001 35.6 22.2
2000 35.4 21.9
1999 35.1 21.6
1998 34.7 21.4
1997 34.3 21.2
1996 34 21.2
1995 33.6 21.5
1994 33.3 22
1993 33 21.9
1992 32.7 21.5
1991 32.4 21.5
1990 32.1 21.3
1989 31.8 21.1
1988 31.6 20.9
1987 31.3 20.7
1986 31.1 20.5
1985 30.8 20.4
1984 30.5 20.2
1983 30.2 20
1982 29.9 19.8
1981 29.6 19.6
1980 29.4 19.4
1979 29.1 19.3
1978 28.9 19.2
1977 28.6 19.1
1976 28.4 19
1975 28.1 18.9
1974 28 18.9
1973 27.8 18.8
1972 27.7 18.8
1971 27.7 18.8
1970 27.7 18.8
1969 27.8 18.8
1968 27.9 18.8
1967 28 18.8
1966 28.1 18.8
1965 28.3 18.8
1964 28.6 18.9
1963 28.8 18.9
1962 29.1 18.9
1961 29.3 19
1960 29.5 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Australia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$1.7T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
38.9%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.06%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.88%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
60,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.25%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
66.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
80.1
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2020
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.7%
2020
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
1,904,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
9.2%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
47
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
1,853
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.74T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$60.4B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.77B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,828,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
8.71%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Australia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,928 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$14.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
383 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
14.1 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
90.2%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
12.3%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
6.26%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-214.5%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
9,820 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
26.7%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
6.07%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Australia South Africa
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+137,109
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.6:50.4
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
95.9
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
98
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.85
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4.9
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
169
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
92.8%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
97.1%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Australia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,980
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,106
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
84.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.09
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
28.7 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
2
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
31%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
94
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
13.1%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.3 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Australia South Africa
% of world land
5.16%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
109,201 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
1,402,492 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
517,397 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
607,623 mi
2017
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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