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Congo vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has a population of 6.33M (ranked 112/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). The Congo's land area is 131,854 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 64th vs. 24th).

By GDP, The Congo ranks 141/197 ($15.7B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, The Congo ranks 149/197 ($2,482), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Congo South Africa
Population
6681829
65683993
Population rank 109/197 24/197
GDP
$15.7B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 141/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$2,482
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 149/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,026
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$15.4B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
98%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,433
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 112/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,153
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 131,854 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
50.4 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.16
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
19.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Congo and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Congo and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Congo South Africa
2024 $15,719,986,077 $401,144,998,374
2023 $15,321,055,823 $381,440,724,491
2022 $15,817,030,155 $407,596,043,068
2021 $14,825,690,211 $419,986,284,375
2020 $11,468,687,464 $337,974,655,408
2019 $13,976,637,780 $389,330,032,224
2018 $14,773,900,289 $405,260,723,893
2017 $11,834,473,039 $381,448,814,653
2016 $10,931,328,151 $323,585,509,674
2015 $12,434,793,867 $346,709,790,459
2014 $17,919,321,078 $381,198,869,776
2013 $17,958,720,699 $400,886,013,596
2012 $17,692,911,296 $434,400,545,086
2011 $15,655,383,577 $458,199,494,831
2010 $13,148,396,212 $417,363,822,802
2009 $9,723,299,915 $329,754,060,647
2008 $11,649,857,673 $316,131,258,616
2007 $8,782,703,437 $333,077,117,254
2006 $8,072,305,029 $303,858,675,364
2005 $6,650,001,680 $288,867,217,197
2004 $4,656,974,940 $255,806,908,595
2003 $3,503,723,088 $197,018,965,309
2002 $3,034,250,924 $129,087,556,612
2001 $2,796,704,604 $135,429,905,923
2000 $3,227,927,698 $151,752,757,215
1999 $2,354,772,960 $151,516,957,079
1998 $1,949,481,379 $152,982,984,557
1997 $2,322,719,103 $168,978,057,328
1996 $2,540,697,539 $163,234,925,381
1995 $2,116,003,868 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,769,365,438 $153,512,712,382
1993 $2,684,323,623 $147,194,747,566
1992 $2,933,222,703 $146,956,150,987
1991 $2,724,853,506 $135,203,698,238
1990 $2,798,746,050 $126,048,140,142
1989 $2,389,593,026 $108,055,624,082
1988 $2,212,536,312 $103,976,831,871
1987 $2,297,753,652 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,849,268,212 $73,354,771,399
1985 $2,160,872,540 $64,459,376,087
1984 $2,193,581,365 $84,870,163,366
1983 $2,097,274,290 $96,204,110,942
1982 $2,160,640,565 $85,904,057,409
1981 $1,993,512,323 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,705,796,853 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,198,749,667 $63,038,658,089
1978 $878,771,772 $51,607,412,902
1977 $765,224,029 $45,328,411,332
1976 $754,549,601 $41,150,460,288
1975 $767,102,680 $42,906,905,672
1974 $585,364,634 $41,389,186,095
1973 $541,973,363 $33,262,772,008
1972 $410,669,264 $24,515,919,217
1971 $322,128,019 $23,411,076,638
1970 $274,960,700 $21,218,391,513
1969 $265,040,036 $19,256,992,297
1968 $251,247,458 $17,124,793,150
1967 $237,397,428 $15,821,393,671
1966 $220,613,582 $14,211,394,315
1965 $198,318,064 $13,068,994,772
1964 $185,693,725 $11,955,995,218
1963 $172,233,431 $10,854,195,658
1962 $166,521,240 $9,813,996,074
1961 $151,675,739 $9,225,996,310
1960 $131,731,863 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Congo and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Congo South Africa
2024 $2,482 $6,267
2023 $2,478 $6,034
2022 $2,621 $6,534
2021 $2,516 $6,829
2020 $1,994 $5,581
2019 $2,488 $6,534
2018 $2,694 $6,914
2017 $2,212 $6,618
2016 $2,093 $5,651
2015 $2,439 $6,112
2014 $3,601 $6,857
2013 $3,697 $7,332
2012 $3,732 $8,077
2011 $3,396 $8,646
2010 $2,947 $7,973
2009 $2,271 $6,375
2008 $2,832 $6,185
2007 $2,206 $6,592
2006 $2,104 $6,077
2005 $1,799 $5,837
2004 $1,306 $5,221
2003 $1,017 $4,062
2002 $906 $2,688
2001 $855 $2,847
2000 $1,024 $3,218
1999 $776 $3,242
1998 $660 $3,310
1997 $804 $3,700
1996 $899 $3,618
1995 $770 $3,856
1994 $662 $3,489
1993 $1,034 $3,400
1992 $1,164 $3,462
1991 $1,113 $3,243
1990 $1,176 $3,093
1989 $1,033 $2,727
1988 $984 $2,702
1987 $1,052 $2,586
1986 $872 $2,027
1985 $1,049 $1,839
1984 $1,097 $2,504
1983 $1,075 $2,938
1982 $1,131 $2,717
1981 $1,066 $3,050
1980 $933 $3,029
1979 $670 $2,202
1978 $503 $1,852
1977 $448 $1,671
1976 $453 $1,559
1975 $471 $1,670
1974 $370 $1,656
1973 $353 $1,369
1972 $276.3 $1,038
1971 $223.5 $1,020
1970 $196.7 $952
1969 $195.4 $891
1968 $190.8 $817
1967 $185.7 $779
1966 $177.6 $722
1965 $164.2 $685
1964 $158.1 $646
1963 $150.7 $605
1962 $149.6 $563
1961 $139.9 $546
1960 $124.7 $532

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

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

Congo vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Congo South Africa
2026 66.4 66.7
2025 66.2 66.5
2024 66 66.3
2023 65.8 66.1
2022 65 65.5
2021 64.2 62
2020 64.4 65.2
2019 63.2 66.1
2018 64.5 65.7
2017 64.2 65.4
2016 63.9 64.7
2015 63.7 64.1
2014 63.3 63.2
2013 63 62.4
2012 62.7 61.7
2011 62.3 60.6
2010 61.7 58.9
2009 61.2 57.4
2008 60.8 56
2007 60.1 54.9
2006 59.5 54.2
2005 58.7 53.9
2004 58 54
2003 57.1 54.2
2002 56.4 55.6
2001 55.9 57.2
2000 55.4 58.4
1999 54.4 59.2
1998 52.6 59.9
1997 48.6 60.5
1996 55.2 61.1
1995 55.5 61.6
1994 55.6 62.1
1993 56 62.6
1992 56.5 62.8
1991 56.8 63
1990 57.1 62.9
1989 57.3 63
1988 57.5 62.9
1987 57.6 62.7
1986 57.6 62.4
1985 57.6 62.2
1984 57.5 61.8
1983 57.4 61.4
1982 57.2 60.9
1981 57.1 60.4
1980 56.8 60
1979 56.5 59.5
1978 56.2 59
1977 56 58.5
1976 55.7 58
1975 55.4 57.6
1974 55.1 57.1
1973 54.7 56.7
1972 54.4 56.4
1971 54 56
1970 53.6 55.7
1969 53.1 55.4
1968 52.6 55.2
1967 51.9 55
1966 51.6 54.7
1965 51 54.4
1964 50.4 54.2
1963 49.7 53.9
1962 49 53.6
1961 48.4 53.1
1960 47.6 52.6
1959 46.8 51.9
1958 46 51.1
1957 45.1 50.2
1956 44.3 49.2
1955 43.4 48.2
1954 42.6 47.1
1953 41.9 46.1
1952 41.1 45
1951 40.3 44.1
1950 39.6 43.1

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

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

Congo and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Congo South Africa
2024 6,332,961 64,007,187
2023 6,182,885 63,212,384
2022 6,035,104 62,378,410
2021 5,892,183 61,502,603
2020 5,752,791 60,562,381
2019 5,616,661 59,587,885
2018 5,483,118 58,613,001
2017 5,351,011 57,635,162
2016 5,222,536 57,259,551
2015 5,097,581 56,723,537
2014 4,975,880 55,594,838
2013 4,857,099 54,678,791
2012 4,740,450 53,782,567
2011 4,609,724 52,995,205
2010 4,462,290 52,344,051
2009 4,281,219 51,728,516
2008 4,113,517 51,114,599
2007 3,980,430 50,528,584
2006 3,837,409 49,998,277
2005 3,696,393 49,490,033
2004 3,565,554 48,991,421
2003 3,445,753 48,500,348
2002 3,350,771 48,019,415
2001 3,272,537 47,566,800
2000 3,151,345 47,159,719
1999 3,032,874 46,730,335
1998 2,952,061 46,223,880
1997 2,887,862 45,666,838
1996 2,826,785 45,123,018
1995 2,749,461 44,541,554
1994 2,673,144 44,004,139
1993 2,595,124 43,297,156
1992 2,519,465 42,443,509
1991 2,449,229 41,687,898
1990 2,380,560 40,746,268
1989 2,313,558 39,628,575
1988 2,247,653 38,480,649
1987 2,183,473 37,326,190
1986 2,120,602 36,180,515
1985 2,059,311 35,042,093
1984 1,999,528 33,892,788
1983 1,950,321 32,739,304
1982 1,910,430 31,615,339
1981 1,869,759 30,541,044
1980 1,828,985 29,518,857
1979 1,788,524 28,634,162
1978 1,748,089 27,869,507
1977 1,707,568 27,118,952
1976 1,667,225 26,395,450
1975 1,627,032 25,690,940
1974 1,582,301 24,989,108
1973 1,533,680 24,294,263
1972 1,486,468 23,609,456
1971 1,441,039 22,942,143
1970 1,397,638 22,279,984
1969 1,356,182 21,614,676
1968 1,316,519 20,957,287
1967 1,278,691 20,314,066
1966 1,242,534 19,690,087
1965 1,207,880 19,089,380
1964 1,174,816 18,511,361
1963 1,143,263 17,954,564
1962 1,113,175 17,418,522
1961 1,084,389 16,908,035
1960 1,056,732 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Congo and South Africa

Fertility rate
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Congo South Africa
2023 4.16 2.22
2022 4.22 2.23
2021 4.28 2.25
2020 4.33 2.26
2019 4.38 2.26
2018 4.44 2.27
2017 4.5 2.28
2016 4.55 2.26
2015 4.61 2.36
2014 4.67 2.42
2013 4.73 2.43
2012 4.79 2.45
2011 4.83 2.44
2010 4.85 2.44
2009 4.81 2.5
2008 4.73 2.68
2007 4.65 2.55
2006 4.65 2.55
2005 4.67 2.51
2004 4.69 2.44
2003 4.7 2.36
2002 4.7 2.32
2001 4.67 2.37
2000 4.72 2.41
1999 4.81 2.56
1998 4.91 2.63
1997 5 2.73
1996 5.03 2.99
1995 5.07 3.17
1994 5.1 3.26
1993 5.13 3.37
1992 5.18 3.48
1991 5.22 3.62
1990 5.27 3.72
1989 5.33 3.98
1988 5.39 4.18
1987 5.46 4.35
1986 5.51 4.41
1985 5.59 4.5
1984 5.66 4.57
1983 5.76 4.63
1982 5.85 4.7
1981 5.98 4.71
1980 6.07 4.78
1979 6.14 4.82
1978 6.21 4.85
1977 6.27 4.94
1976 6.32 5.07
1975 6.36 5.19
1974 6.39 5.3
1973 6.42 5.41
1972 6.44 5.49
1971 6.42 5.57
1970 6.38 5.63
1969 6.35 5.72
1968 6.33 5.78
1967 6.29 5.85
1966 6.27 5.91
1965 6.23 5.89
1964 6.18 5.96
1963 6.15 6.01
1962 6.1 6.05
1961 6.09 6.08
1960 6.09 6.11

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

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

Congo and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Congo

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Congo South Africa
2024 19.5 29.5
2023 19.4 29.2
2022 19.3 28.9
2021 19.2 28.6
2020 19.2 28.3
2019 19.1 27.9
2018 19.1 27.5
2017 19.2 27
2016 19.2 26.7
2015 19.3 26.4
2014 19.4 26
2013 19.5 25.7
2012 19.6 25.3
2011 19.7 25
2010 19.8 24.6
2009 19.7 24.3
2008 19.5 24
2007 19.5 23.8
2006 19.3 23.5
2005 19.2 23.3
2004 19 23.1
2003 18.9 22.8
2002 18.8 22.4
2001 18.8 22.2
2000 18.5 21.9
1999 18.2 21.6
1998 18.1 21.4
1997 18.1 21.2
1996 18.1 21.2
1995 18.1 21.5
1994 18 22
1993 17.9 21.9
1992 17.8 21.5
1991 17.7 21.5
1990 17.7 21.3
1989 17.6 21.1
1988 17.5 20.9
1987 17.4 20.7
1986 17.4 20.5
1985 17.3 20.4
1984 17.2 20.2
1983 17.2 20
1982 17.1 19.8
1981 17 19.6
1980 17 19.4
1979 17 19.3
1978 17 19.2
1977 17 19.1
1976 17.1 19
1975 17.2 18.9
1974 17.3 18.9
1973 17.4 18.8
1972 17.4 18.8
1971 17.5 18.8
1970 17.6 18.8
1969 17.7 18.8
1968 17.8 18.8
1967 17.9 18.8
1966 18.1 18.8
1965 18.2 18.8
1964 18.3 18.9
1963 18.4 18.9
1962 18.6 18.9
1961 18.7 19
1960 18.8 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Congo South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$14.4B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.7%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.34%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.19%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
12,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+3.62%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
10%
2012
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
45%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
40.1%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.6
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
37.9%
2011
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.6%
2011
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$715M
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$44M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
158,000
2018
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.93%
2016
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
55.6%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Congo South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
628 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.6
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.46 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.34 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
51.8%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
71.4%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.56%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-347%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
459 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
26.3%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
22.3%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
51.3%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Congo South Africa
% of world population
0.08%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,999
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50:50
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.62 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
19.3
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
21
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.32
2015
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
29.7
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
55
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
80.6%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
0%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
38.4%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Congo South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$75.6
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$21.1
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
66.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
14.9%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.17
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.6 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
241
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
40.5
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
8.84%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
8.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
3
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
15.4%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.05 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Congo South Africa
% of world land
0.23%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
20,820 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
41,125 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
84,560 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
14,493 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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