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Colombia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Colombia has a population of 52.9M (ranked 28/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Colombia's land area is 428,380 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 26th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Colombia ranks 39/197 ($419B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Colombia ranks 94/197 ($7,919), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Colombia South Africa
Population
54105437
65683993
Population rank 28/197 24/197
GDP
$419B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 39/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$7,919
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 94/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,349
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$256B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
61.2%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,849
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 82/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,722
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 428,380 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
126 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.65
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
33.1 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
78.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Colombia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Colombia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Colombia South Africa
2024 $418,818,154,879 $401,144,998,374
2023 $366,291,836,138 $381,440,724,491
2022 $345,632,492,851 $407,596,043,068
2021 $318,524,633,225 $419,986,284,375
2020 $270,348,342,541 $337,974,655,408
2019 $323,031,701,193 $389,330,032,224
2018 $334,198,218,098 $405,260,723,893
2017 $311,866,875,157 $381,448,814,653
2016 $282,720,100,286 $323,585,509,674
2015 $293,492,370,193 $346,709,790,459
2014 $381,240,864,422 $381,198,869,776
2013 $382,093,697,078 $400,886,013,596
2012 $370,691,143,018 $434,400,545,086
2011 $334,966,134,805 $458,199,494,831
2010 $286,498,534,095 $417,363,822,802
2009 $232,468,663,110 $329,754,060,647
2008 $242,504,150,473 $316,131,258,616
2007 $206,229,540,926 $333,077,117,254
2006 $161,792,958,905 $303,858,675,364
2005 $145,600,529,606 $288,867,217,197
2004 $117,092,416,666 $255,806,908,595
2003 $94,644,969,157 $197,018,965,309
2002 $97,945,812,803 $129,087,556,612
2001 $98,200,641,203 $135,429,905,923
2000 $99,875,074,951 $151,752,757,215
1999 $86,186,158,685 $151,516,957,079
1998 $98,443,739,941 $152,982,984,557
1997 $106,659,508,271 $168,978,057,328
1996 $97,160,109,278 $163,234,925,381
1995 $92,507,279,383 $171,735,933,897
1994 $81,703,500,846 $153,512,712,382
1993 $66,446,804,803 $147,194,747,566
1992 $58,418,985,443 $146,956,150,987
1991 $49,175,565,911 $135,203,698,238
1990 $47,844,090,710 $126,048,140,142
1989 $39,540,080,200 $108,055,624,082
1988 $39,212,550,050 $103,976,831,871
1987 $36,373,307,085 $96,535,763,418
1986 $34,942,489,684 $73,354,771,399
1985 $34,894,411,352 $64,459,376,087
1984 $38,253,120,738 $84,870,163,366
1983 $38,729,822,782 $96,204,110,942
1982 $38,968,039,722 $85,904,057,409
1981 $36,388,366,869 $93,141,472,164
1980 $33,400,735,644 $89,411,864,402
1979 $27,940,411,250 $63,038,658,089
1978 $23,263,511,958 $51,607,412,902
1977 $19,470,960,619 $45,328,411,332
1976 $15,341,403,660 $41,150,460,288
1975 $13,098,633,902 $42,906,905,672
1974 $12,370,029,584 $41,389,186,095
1973 $10,315,760,000 $33,262,772,008
1972 $8,671,358,733 $24,515,919,217
1971 $7,820,380,971 $23,411,076,638
1970 $7,198,360,460 $21,218,391,513
1969 $6,450,175,214 $19,256,992,297
1968 $5,960,212,869 $17,124,793,150
1967 $5,825,170,438 $15,821,393,671
1966 $5,428,518,519 $14,211,394,315
1965 $5,760,761,905 $13,068,994,772
1964 $5,973,366,667 $11,955,995,218
1963 $4,836,166,667 $10,854,195,658
1962 $4,955,543,963 $9,813,996,074
1961 $4,540,447,761 $9,225,996,310
1960 $4,031,152,977 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Colombia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Colombia South Africa
2024 $7,919 $6,267
2023 $7,001 $6,034
2022 $6,680 $6,534
2021 $6,223 $6,829
2020 $5,340 $5,581
2019 $6,473 $6,534
2018 $6,817 $6,914
2017 $6,480 $6,618
2016 $5,960 $5,651
2015 $6,249 $6,112
2014 $8,187 $6,857
2013 $8,279 $7,332
2012 $8,109 $8,077
2011 $7,401 $8,646
2010 $6,398 $7,973
2009 $5,251 $6,375
2008 $5,542 $6,185
2007 $4,770 $6,592
2006 $3,790 $6,077
2005 $3,456 $5,837
2004 $2,819 $5,221
2003 $2,312 $4,062
2002 $2,429 $2,688
2001 $2,473 $2,847
2000 $2,555 $3,218
1999 $2,241 $3,242
1998 $2,605 $3,310
1997 $2,873 $3,700
1996 $2,665 $3,618
1995 $2,584 $3,856
1994 $2,326 $3,489
1993 $1,929 $3,400
1992 $1,730 $3,462
1991 $1,486 $3,243
1990 $1,475 $3,093
1989 $1,244 $2,727
1988 $1,260 $2,702
1987 $1,193 $2,586
1986 $1,169 $2,027
1985 $1,192 $1,839
1984 $1,336 $2,504
1983 $1,384 $2,938
1982 $1,425 $2,717
1981 $1,362 $3,050
1980 $1,280 $3,029
1979 $1,095 $2,202
1978 $932 $1,852
1977 $798 $1,671
1976 $643 $1,559
1975 $561 $1,670
1974 $542 $1,656
1973 $462 $1,369
1972 $397 $1,038
1971 $367 $1,020
1970 $346 $952
1969 $318 $891
1968 $302 $817
1967 $303 $779
1966 $290.3 $722
1965 $317 $685
1964 $339 $646
1963 $282.6 $605
1962 $298.5 $563
1961 $282.1 $546
1960 $258.3 $532

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

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

Colombia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Colombia South Africa
2026 78.3 66.7
2025 78.1 66.5
2024 77.9 66.3
2023 77.7 66.1
2022 76.5 65.5
2021 72.7 62
2020 74.8 65.2
2019 76.8 66.1
2018 76.6 65.7
2017 76.4 65.4
2016 76.2 64.7
2015 76.1 64.1
2014 75.9 63.2
2013 75.8 62.4
2012 75.6 61.7
2011 75.2 60.6
2010 74.9 58.9
2009 74.5 57.4
2008 74.2 56
2007 73.8 54.9
2006 73.5 54.2
2005 73.2 53.9
2004 72.8 54
2003 72.3 54.2
2002 71.5 55.6
2001 71.2 57.2
2000 70.9 58.4
1999 70.9 59.2
1998 70.9 59.9
1997 70.6 60.5
1996 70.2 61.1
1995 69.8 61.6
1994 69.4 62.1
1993 69.1 62.6
1992 68.8 62.8
1991 68.8 63
1990 68.7 62.9
1989 68.6 63
1988 68.3 62.9
1987 68.2 62.7
1986 68.3 62.4
1985 65.4 62.2
1984 68.3 61.8
1983 68.1 61.4
1982 67.9 60.9
1981 67.2 60.4
1980 66.7 60
1979 66.2 59.5
1978 65.8 59
1977 65.2 58.5
1976 64.6 58
1975 64 57.6
1974 63.5 57.1
1973 63 56.7
1972 62.5 56.4
1971 62 56
1970 61.5 55.7
1969 61 55.4
1968 60.6 55.2
1967 60.1 55
1966 59.7 54.7
1965 59.2 54.4
1964 58.8 54.2
1963 58.3 53.9
1962 57.7 53.6
1961 57.2 53.1
1960 56.6 52.6
1959 55.9 51.9
1958 54.7 51.1
1957 54.1 50.2
1956 52.5 49.2
1955 51.9 48.2
1954 51.3 47.1
1953 50.6 46.1
1952 49.8 45
1951 49 44.1
1950 48.3 43.1

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

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

Colombia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Colombia South Africa
2024 52,886,363 64,007,187
2023 52,321,152 63,212,384
2022 51,737,944 62,378,410
2021 51,188,173 61,502,603
2020 50,629,997 60,562,381
2019 49,907,985 59,587,885
2018 49,024,465 58,613,001
2017 48,131,078 57,635,162
2016 47,437,512 57,259,551
2015 46,969,940 56,723,537
2014 46,565,429 55,594,838
2013 46,151,584 54,678,791
2012 45,715,810 53,782,567
2011 45,259,614 52,995,205
2010 44,777,319 52,344,051
2009 44,271,541 51,728,516
2008 43,758,808 51,114,599
2007 43,235,374 50,528,584
2006 42,691,084 49,998,277
2005 42,128,977 49,490,033
2004 41,543,171 48,991,421
2003 40,937,429 48,500,348
2002 40,324,680 48,019,415
2001 39,709,262 47,566,800
2000 39,089,934 47,159,719
1999 38,454,863 46,730,335
1998 37,792,165 46,223,880
1997 37,121,149 45,666,838
1996 36,462,745 45,123,018
1995 35,804,662 44,541,554
1994 35,127,410 44,004,139
1993 34,441,473 43,297,156
1992 33,760,571 42,443,509
1991 33,098,372 41,687,898
1990 32,440,069 40,746,268
1989 31,776,279 39,628,575
1988 31,130,524 38,480,649
1987 30,499,467 37,326,190
1986 29,879,112 36,180,515
1985 29,268,470 35,042,093
1984 28,642,690 33,892,788
1983 27,988,173 32,739,304
1982 27,338,331 31,615,339
1981 26,713,267 30,541,044
1980 26,104,498 29,518,857
1979 25,515,626 28,634,162
1978 24,950,337 27,869,507
1977 24,393,494 27,118,952
1976 23,858,810 26,395,450
1975 23,344,644 25,690,940
1974 22,833,469 24,989,108
1973 22,325,374 24,294,263
1972 21,819,563 23,609,456
1971 21,319,096 22,942,143
1970 20,811,782 22,279,984
1969 20,291,942 21,614,676
1968 19,766,796 20,957,287
1967 19,235,618 20,314,066
1966 18,702,688 19,690,087
1965 18,169,050 19,089,380
1964 17,637,411 18,511,361
1963 17,113,823 17,954,564
1962 16,599,029 17,418,522
1961 16,095,203 16,908,035
1960 15,606,209 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Colombia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Colombia South Africa
2023 1.65 2.22
2022 1.66 2.23
2021 1.68 2.25
2020 1.69 2.26
2019 1.71 2.26
2018 1.72 2.27
2017 1.72 2.28
2016 1.72 2.26
2015 1.77 2.36
2014 1.82 2.42
2013 1.86 2.43
2012 1.9 2.45
2011 1.94 2.44
2010 2.01 2.44
2009 2.1 2.5
2008 2.15 2.68
2007 2.19 2.55
2006 2.24 2.55
2005 2.31 2.51
2004 2.38 2.44
2003 2.45 2.36
2002 2.49 2.32
2001 2.52 2.37
2000 2.57 2.41
1999 2.64 2.56
1998 2.72 2.63
1997 2.74 2.73
1996 2.77 2.99
1995 2.85 3.17
1994 2.94 3.26
1993 2.98 3.37
1992 2.98 3.48
1991 2.98 3.62
1990 3 3.72
1989 3.01 3.98
1988 3.04 4.18
1987 3.09 4.35
1986 3.15 4.41
1985 3.23 4.5
1984 3.35 4.57
1983 3.5 4.63
1982 3.62 4.7
1981 3.71 4.71
1980 3.8 4.78
1979 3.89 4.82
1978 4 4.85
1977 4.16 4.94
1976 4.29 5.07
1975 4.4 5.19
1974 4.53 5.3
1973 4.68 5.41
1972 4.86 5.49
1971 5.06 5.57
1970 5.28 5.63
1969 5.51 5.72
1968 5.74 5.78
1967 5.96 5.85
1966 6.16 5.91
1965 6.33 5.89
1964 6.48 5.96
1963 6.58 6.01
1962 6.66 6.05
1961 6.71 6.08
1960 6.74 6.11

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

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

Colombia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Colombia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Colombia South Africa
2024 33.1 29.5
2023 32.7 29.2
2022 32.2 28.9
2021 31.9 28.6
2020 31.5 28.3
2019 31.1 27.9
2018 30.7 27.5
2017 30.4 27
2016 30 26.7
2015 29.6 26.4
2014 29.2 26
2013 28.7 25.7
2012 28.3 25.3
2011 27.9 25
2010 27.5 24.6
2009 27.1 24.3
2008 26.7 24
2007 26.4 23.8
2006 26 23.5
2005 25.6 23.3
2004 25.3 23.1
2003 25 22.8
2002 24.7 22.4
2001 24.5 22.2
2000 24.2 21.9
1999 23.9 21.6
1998 23.7 21.4
1997 23.5 21.2
1996 23.2 21.2
1995 23 21.5
1994 22.8 22
1993 22.5 21.9
1992 22.3 21.5
1991 22.1 21.5
1990 21.8 21.3
1989 21.6 21.1
1988 21.3 20.9
1987 21 20.7
1986 20.7 20.5
1985 20.4 20.4
1984 20.1 20.2
1983 19.8 20
1982 19.5 19.8
1981 19.2 19.6
1980 19 19.4
1979 18.7 19.3
1978 18.5 19.2
1977 18.2 19.1
1976 18 19
1975 17.8 18.9
1974 17.6 18.9
1973 17.3 18.8
1972 17.1 18.8
1971 16.9 18.8
1970 16.8 18.8
1969 16.6 18.8
1968 16.5 18.8
1967 16.4 18.8
1966 16.4 18.8
1965 16.3 18.8
1964 16.3 18.9
1963 16.4 18.9
1962 16.4 18.9
1961 16.5 19
1960 16.6 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Colombia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$372B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
34.6%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.26%
2020
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
3.36%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
428,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-6.25%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
9.62%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
59.8
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
4
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
60
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$72.6B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$61.9B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$11.9B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,396,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
5.13%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
57.1%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Colombia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
863 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$24.6
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
95.1 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.8 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
75.3%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
29.7%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
11.3%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-142%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,553 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
75.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
64.8%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
98.7%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Colombia South Africa
% of world population
0.65%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+129,139
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
78.5%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.64 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.18 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
45.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
74
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
25.3
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.4
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
135
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
95.3%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
4.22%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
77.3%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Colombia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$644
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$95
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
78.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.54
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.7 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
59
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
12
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
24.3%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
8.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
59
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
8.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.24 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Colombia South Africa
% of world land
0.74%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
8,100 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
156,306 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
226,040 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
127,001 mi
2021
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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