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Brazil vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Brazil has a population of 212M (ranked 7/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Brazil's land area is 3,227,096 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 5th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Brazil ranks 10/197 ($2.19T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Brazil ranks 85/197 ($10,311), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Brazil South Africa
Population
213824938
65683993
Population rank 7/197 24/197
GDP
$2.19T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 10/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$10,311
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 85/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,338
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$1.91T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$8,999
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 60/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,263
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 3,227,096 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
66.2 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.62
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
35.4 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Brazil and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Brazil and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Brazil South Africa
2024 $2,185,821,648,944 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,191,131,869,706 $381,440,724,491
2022 $1,951,923,832,084 $407,596,043,068
2021 $1,670,647,464,063 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,476,107,292,152 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,873,288,158,839 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,916,933,708,353 $405,260,723,893
2017 $2,063,514,688,806 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,795,693,265,999 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,802,211,999,456 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,456,043,766,032 $381,198,869,776
2013 $2,472,819,362,044 $400,886,013,596
2012 $2,465,228,293,707 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,616,156,606,579 $458,199,494,831
2010 $2,208,838,108,484 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,666,996,294,252 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,695,855,391,758 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,397,114,247,189 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,107,626,711,163 $303,858,675,364
2005 $891,633,826,625 $288,867,217,197
2004 $669,289,321,945 $255,806,908,595
2003 $558,233,724,165 $197,018,965,309
2002 $509,795,270,685 $129,087,556,612
2001 $559,983,704,094 $135,429,905,923
2000 $655,448,188,259 $151,752,757,215
1999 $599,642,075,004 $151,516,957,079
1998 $863,711,007,325 $152,982,984,557
1997 $883,206,452,795 $168,978,057,328
1996 $850,426,433,004 $163,234,925,381
1995 $769,333,330,412 $171,735,933,897
1994 $525,369,851,354 $153,512,712,382
1993 $368,295,778,245 $147,194,747,566
1992 $328,187,960,872 $146,956,150,987
1991 $342,609,231,343 $135,203,698,238
1990 $390,725,626,003 $126,048,140,142
1989 $412,990,820,287 $108,055,624,082
1988 $307,881,930,752 $103,976,831,871
1987 $283,056,836,894 $96,535,763,418
1986 $256,480,852,471 $73,354,771,399
1985 $210,879,844,639 $64,459,376,087
1984 $188,339,974,087 $84,870,163,366
1983 $189,656,506,321 $96,204,110,942
1982 $271,314,113,768 $85,904,057,409
1981 $258,015,174,749 $93,141,472,164
1980 $237,393,489,893 $89,411,864,402
1979 $221,338,204,480 $63,038,658,089
1978 $200,278,646,124 $51,607,412,902
1977 $176,344,101,402 $45,328,411,332
1976 $153,168,949,208 $41,150,460,288
1975 $129,203,555,239 $42,906,905,672
1974 $109,794,519,728 $41,389,186,095
1973 $83,592,275,863 $33,262,772,008
1972 $58,434,858,375 $24,515,919,217
1971 $48,869,830,902 $23,411,076,638
1970 $42,327,664,794 $21,218,391,513
1969 $37,171,640,819 $19,256,992,297
1968 $33,930,457,425 $17,124,793,150
1967 $31,086,389,195 $15,821,393,671
1966 $28,283,323,733 $14,211,394,315
1965 $22,465,522,884 $13,068,994,772
1964 $20,963,733,695 $11,955,995,218
1963 $23,287,712,878 $10,854,195,658
1962 $19,231,747,852 $9,813,996,074
1961 $17,275,940,449 $9,225,996,310
1960 $17,030,465,539 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Brazil and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Brazil South Africa
2024 $10,311 $6,267
2023 $10,378 $6,034
2022 $9,281 $6,534
2021 $7,973 $6,829
2020 $7,074 $5,581
2019 $9,030 $6,534
2018 $9,301 $6,914
2017 $10,081 $6,618
2016 $8,836 $5,651
2015 $8,936 $6,112
2014 $12,275 $6,857
2013 $12,459 $7,332
2012 $12,522 $8,077
2011 $13,397 $8,646
2010 $11,403 $7,973
2009 $8,679 $6,375
2008 $8,908 $6,185
2007 $7,410 $6,592
2006 $5,934 $6,077
2005 $4,828 $5,837
2004 $3,664 $5,221
2003 $3,091 $4,062
2002 $2,856 $2,688
2001 $3,176 $2,847
2000 $3,767 $3,218
1999 $3,494 $3,242
1998 $5,106 $3,310
1997 $5,299 $3,700
1996 $5,179 $3,618
1995 $4,757 $3,856
1994 $3,299 $3,489
1993 $2,349 $3,400
1992 $2,127 $3,462
1991 $2,258 $3,243
1990 $2,620 $3,093
1989 $2,819 $2,727
1988 $2,141 $2,702
1987 $2,006 $2,586
1986 $1,854 $2,027
1985 $1,556 $1,839
1984 $1,420 $2,504
1983 $1,461 $2,938
1982 $2,138 $2,717
1981 $2,080 $3,050
1980 $1,959 $3,029
1979 $1,870 $2,202
1978 $1,733 $1,852
1977 $1,562 $1,671
1976 $1,390 $1,559
1975 $1,201 $1,670
1974 $1,045 $1,656
1973 $815 $1,369
1972 $583 $1,038
1971 $500 $1,020
1970 $444 $952
1969 $399 $891
1968 $374 $817
1967 $351 $779
1966 $328 $722
1965 $268 $685
1964 $257.3 $646
1963 $294.2 $605
1962 $250.2 $563
1961 $231.6 $546
1960 $235.3 $532

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

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

Brazil vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Brazil South Africa
2026 76.4 66.7
2025 76.2 66.5
2024 76 66.3
2023 75.8 66.1
2022 74.9 65.5
2021 73 62
2020 74.5 65.2
2019 75.8 66.1
2018 75.6 65.7
2017 75.4 65.4
2016 75.1 64.7
2015 75.1 64.1
2014 74.8 63.2
2013 74.6 62.4
2012 74.3 61.7
2011 74 60.6
2010 73.8 58.9
2009 73.5 57.4
2008 73.1 56
2007 72.7 54.9
2006 72.3 54.2
2005 71.8 53.9
2004 71.4 54
2003 70.9 54.2
2002 70.4 55.6
2001 70 57.2
2000 69.6 58.4
1999 69.2 59.2
1998 68.8 59.9
1997 68.5 60.5
1996 68.1 61.1
1995 67.7 61.6
1994 67.3 62.1
1993 66.9 62.6
1992 66.5 62.8
1991 66.2 63
1990 65.9 62.9
1989 65.5 63
1988 65.2 62.9
1987 64.8 62.7
1986 64.4 62.4
1985 64 62.2
1984 63.6 61.8
1983 63.1 61.4
1982 62.7 60.9
1981 62.3 60.4
1980 61.8 60
1979 61.4 59.5
1978 60.9 59
1977 60.5 58.5
1976 60 58
1975 59.6 57.6
1974 59.1 57.1
1973 58.7 56.7
1972 58.3 56.4
1971 57.8 56
1970 57.3 55.7
1969 56.9 55.4
1968 56.5 55.2
1967 56 55
1966 55.6 54.7
1965 55.2 54.4
1964 54.8 54.2
1963 54.5 53.9
1962 54 53.6
1961 53.6 53.1
1960 53.2 52.6
1959 52.7 51.9
1958 52.2 51.1
1957 51.8 50.2
1956 51.3 49.2
1955 50.9 48.2
1954 50.4 47.1
1953 50 46.1
1952 49.6 45
1951 49 44.1
1950 48.5 43.1

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

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

Brazil and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Brazil South Africa
2024 211,998,573 64,007,187
2023 211,140,729 63,212,384
2022 210,306,415 62,378,410
2021 209,550,294 61,502,603
2020 208,660,842 60,562,381
2019 207,455,459 59,587,885
2018 206,107,261 58,613,001
2017 204,703,445 57,635,162
2016 203,218,114 57,259,551
2015 201,675,532 56,723,537
2014 200,085,127 55,594,838
2013 198,478,299 54,678,791
2012 196,876,111 53,782,567
2011 195,284,734 52,995,205
2010 193,701,929 52,344,051
2009 192,079,951 51,728,516
2008 190,367,302 51,114,599
2007 188,552,320 50,528,584
2006 186,653,106 49,998,277
2005 184,688,101 49,490,033
2004 182,675,143 48,991,421
2003 180,622,688 48,500,348
2002 178,503,484 48,019,415
2001 176,301,203 47,566,800
2000 174,018,282 47,159,719
1999 171,641,543 46,730,335
1998 169,159,655 46,223,880
1997 166,661,659 45,666,838
1996 164,202,549 45,123,018
1995 161,735,073 44,541,554
1994 159,265,006 44,004,139
1993 156,794,577 43,297,156
1992 154,275,079 42,443,509
1991 151,724,256 41,687,898
1990 149,143,223 40,746,268
1989 146,502,972 39,628,575
1988 143,826,357 38,480,649
1987 141,104,944 37,326,190
1986 138,336,370 36,180,515
1985 135,515,595 35,042,093
1984 132,658,864 33,892,788
1983 129,790,077 32,739,304
1982 126,923,155 31,615,339
1981 124,063,109 30,541,044
1980 121,207,461 29,518,857
1979 118,380,821 28,634,162
1978 115,600,942 27,869,507
1977 112,875,292 27,118,952
1976 110,213,349 26,395,450
1975 107,619,565 25,690,940
1974 105,089,675 24,989,108
1973 102,600,976 24,294,263
1972 100,146,797 23,609,456
1971 97,739,273 22,942,143
1970 95,375,651 22,279,984
1969 93,045,777 21,614,676
1968 90,741,240 20,957,287
1967 88,446,124 20,314,066
1966 86,139,359 19,690,087
1965 83,817,583 19,089,380
1964 81,488,595 18,511,361
1963 79,164,235 17,954,564
1962 76,865,323 17,418,522
1961 74,605,447 16,908,035
1960 72,388,126 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Brazil and South Africa

Fertility rate
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Brazil South Africa
2023 1.62 2.22
2022 1.63 2.23
2021 1.64 2.25
2020 1.65 2.26
2019 1.71 2.26
2018 1.74 2.27
2017 1.74 2.28
2016 1.73 2.26
2015 1.78 2.36
2014 1.78 2.42
2013 1.76 2.43
2012 1.77 2.45
2011 1.78 2.44
2010 1.79 2.44
2009 1.8 2.5
2008 1.82 2.68
2007 1.85 2.55
2006 1.9 2.55
2005 1.94 2.51
2004 1.97 2.44
2003 2.01 2.36
2002 2.08 2.32
2001 2.16 2.37
2000 2.25 2.41
1999 2.34 2.56
1998 2.42 2.63
1997 2.47 2.73
1996 2.51 2.99
1995 2.57 3.17
1994 2.6 3.26
1993 2.66 3.37
1992 2.71 3.48
1991 2.81 3.62
1990 2.9 3.72
1989 3.01 3.98
1988 3.11 4.18
1987 3.23 4.35
1986 3.36 4.41
1985 3.48 4.5
1984 3.6 4.57
1983 3.72 4.63
1982 3.84 4.7
1981 3.94 4.71
1980 4.04 4.78
1979 4.12 4.82
1978 4.2 4.85
1977 4.27 4.94
1976 4.34 5.07
1975 4.42 5.19
1974 4.5 5.3
1973 4.64 5.41
1972 4.74 5.49
1971 4.84 5.57
1970 4.93 5.63
1969 5.04 5.72
1968 5.17 5.78
1967 5.34 5.85
1966 5.52 5.91
1965 5.68 5.89
1964 5.82 5.96
1963 5.93 6.01
1962 5.98 6.05
1961 6.02 6.08
1960 6.05 6.11

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

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

Brazil and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Brazil

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Brazil South Africa
2024 35.4 29.5
2023 34.9 29.2
2022 34.5 28.9
2021 34.1 28.6
2020 33.7 28.3
2019 33.2 27.9
2018 32.8 27.5
2017 32.4 27
2016 31.9 26.7
2015 31.5 26.4
2014 31 26
2013 30.6 25.7
2012 30.1 25.3
2011 29.7 25
2010 29.2 24.6
2009 28.8 24.3
2008 28.3 24
2007 27.9 23.8
2006 27.5 23.5
2005 27.1 23.3
2004 26.7 23.1
2003 26.3 22.8
2002 25.9 22.4
2001 25.5 22.2
2000 25.2 21.9
1999 24.9 21.6
1998 24.6 21.4
1997 24.3 21.2
1996 24 21.2
1995 23.7 21.5
1994 23.5 22
1993 23.2 21.9
1992 22.9 21.5
1991 22.7 21.5
1990 22.4 21.3
1989 22.1 21.1
1988 21.9 20.9
1987 21.7 20.7
1986 21.5 20.5
1985 21.2 20.4
1984 21 20.2
1983 20.8 20
1982 20.6 19.8
1981 20.4 19.6
1980 20.2 19.4
1979 20 19.3
1978 19.8 19.2
1977 19.6 19.1
1976 19.4 19
1975 19.2 18.9
1974 19.1 18.9
1973 18.9 18.8
1972 18.7 18.8
1971 18.5 18.8
1970 18.4 18.8
1969 18.2 18.8
1968 18.1 18.8
1967 18 18.8
1966 17.9 18.8
1965 17.9 18.8
1964 17.8 18.9
1963 17.8 18.9
1962 17.9 18.9
1961 17.9 19
1960 18 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Brazil South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.11T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
45.7%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.62%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.97%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
762,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-6.19%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.8%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
59.2%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
52.4
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
40.8%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.3%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
433,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.28%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
56
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
331
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$659B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$330B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$4.9B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
6,353,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.3%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
86.4%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Brazil South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,481 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$14.3
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
491 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.32 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
49.4%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
46.5%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
17.3%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-13.7%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,916 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
77.4%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
60.2%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
2.05%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
99.8%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Brazil South Africa
% of world population
2.61%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-217,283
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
87.9%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.2:50.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.33 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
48.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
35
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
92
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
19.3
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
16
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
162
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
94.8%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
5.56%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
84.5%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Brazil South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,010
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$264.9
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.02%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.36
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
14.4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
28.9%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
10.6%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
58
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.7 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Brazil South Africa
% of world land
5.61%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
15,222 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
914,131 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,903,402 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
1,242,742 mi
2023
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) (2000–2019, 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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