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Denmark vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a population of 5.98M (ranked 114/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Denmark's land area is 15,444 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 130th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Denmark ranks 37/197 ($425B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Denmark ranks 12/197 ($71,026), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Denmark South Africa
Population
6032403
65683993
Population rank 114/197 24/197
GDP
$425B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 37/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$71,026
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 12/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$81,878
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$134B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.5%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$22,340
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 30/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$53,468
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 15,444 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
390 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
42.3 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Denmark and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Denmark and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Denmark South Africa
2024 $424,524,722,037 $401,144,998,374
2023 $404,651,706,118 $381,440,724,491
2022 $400,114,306,337 $407,596,043,068
2021 $406,110,162,088 $419,986,284,375
2020 $355,631,021,932 $337,974,655,408
2019 $345,401,473,013 $389,330,032,224
2018 $355,293,374,912 $405,260,723,893
2017 $331,610,593,962 $381,448,814,653
2016 $312,181,849,372 $323,585,509,674
2015 $301,758,922,338 $346,709,790,459
2014 $352,832,602,064 $381,198,869,776
2013 $344,631,016,965 $400,886,013,596
2012 $326,792,574,245 $434,400,545,086
2011 $344,315,595,263 $458,199,494,831
2010 $322,345,594,075 $417,363,822,802
2009 $322,619,152,195 $329,754,060,647
2008 $354,979,471,960 $316,131,258,616
2007 $320,213,157,595 $333,077,117,254
2006 $283,386,151,544 $303,858,675,364
2005 $265,150,087,712 $288,867,217,197
2004 $251,986,155,631 $255,806,908,595
2003 $218,421,193,436 $197,018,965,309
2002 $178,788,209,558 $129,087,556,612
2001 $164,881,594,415 $135,429,905,923
2000 $164,043,817,224 $151,752,757,215
1999 $177,887,720,536 $151,516,957,079
1998 $176,877,077,513 $152,982,984,557
1997 $173,241,365,735 $168,978,057,328
1996 $187,481,157,846 $163,234,925,381
1995 $184,848,481,008 $171,735,933,897
1994 $156,017,919,221 $153,512,712,382
1993 $143,111,306,004 $147,194,747,566
1992 $152,966,494,260 $146,956,150,987
1991 $139,180,507,778 $135,203,698,238
1990 $138,217,740,684 $126,048,140,142
1989 $112,312,200,761 $108,055,624,082
1988 $115,540,189,705 $103,976,831,871
1987 $109,183,446,340 $96,535,763,418
1986 $87,748,695,217 $73,354,771,399
1985 $62,452,421,011 $64,459,376,087
1984 $58,868,891,335 $84,870,163,366
1983 $60,331,158,447 $96,204,110,942
1982 $60,084,214,872 $85,904,057,409
1981 $61,459,941,461 $93,141,472,164
1980 $70,811,287,816 $89,411,864,402
1979 $70,393,030,603 $63,038,658,089
1978 $60,320,089,218 $51,607,412,902
1977 $49,711,709,588 $45,328,411,332
1976 $44,503,607,444 $41,150,460,288
1975 $40,418,967,666 $42,906,905,672
1974 $34,125,712,481 $41,389,186,095
1973 $30,718,181,337 $33,262,772,008
1972 $23,230,667,549 $24,515,919,217
1971 $19,086,192,720 $23,411,076,638
1970 $17,075,457,733 $21,218,391,513
1969 $15,414,902,667 $19,256,992,297
1968 $13,505,574,133 $17,124,793,150
1967 $13,059,064,806 $15,821,393,671
1966 $11,931,740,293 $14,211,394,315
1965 $10,870,670,865 $13,068,994,772
1964 $9,677,401,337 $11,955,995,218
1963 $8,466,044,980 $10,854,195,658
1962 $7,953,274,741 $9,813,996,074
1961 $7,058,361,229 $9,225,996,310
1960 $6,361,166,545 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Denmark and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Denmark South Africa
2024 $71,026 $6,267
2023 $68,044 $6,034
2022 $67,781 $6,534
2021 $69,341 $6,829
2020 $60,985 $5,581
2019 $59,404 $6,534
2018 $61,325 $6,914
2017 $57,522 $6,618
2016 $54,501 $5,651
2015 $53,094 $6,112
2014 $62,520 $6,857
2013 $61,378 $7,332
2012 $58,444 $8,077
2011 $61,810 $8,646
2010 $58,105 $7,973
2009 $58,413 $6,375
2008 $64,617 $6,185
2007 $58,632 $6,592
2006 $52,119 $6,077
2005 $48,926 $5,837
2004 $46,625 $5,221
2003 $40,519 $4,062
2002 $33,257 $2,688
2001 $30,768 $2,847
2000 $30,722 $3,218
1999 $33,426 $3,242
1998 $33,346 $3,310
1997 $32,780 $3,700
1996 $35,622 $3,618
1995 $35,321 $3,856
1994 $29,968 $3,489
1993 $27,582 $3,400
1992 $29,579 $3,462
1991 $27,003 $3,243
1990 $26,886 $3,093
1989 $21,882 $2,727
1988 $22,525 $2,702
1987 $21,296 $2,586
1986 $17,137 $2,027
1985 $12,213 $1,839
1984 $11,517 $2,504
1983 $11,797 $2,938
1982 $11,740 $2,717
1981 $12,000 $3,050
1980 $13,822 $3,029
1979 $13,757 $2,202
1978 $11,818 $1,852
1977 $9,770 $1,671
1976 $8,773 $1,559
1975 $7,988 $1,670
1974 $6,764 $1,656
1973 $6,117 $1,369
1972 $4,654 $1,038
1971 $3,846 $1,020
1970 $3,464 $952
1969 $3,151 $891
1968 $2,776 $817
1967 $2,701 $779
1966 $2,487 $722
1965 $2,284 $685
1964 $2,049 $646
1963 $1,807 $605
1962 $1,711 $563
1961 $1,531 $546
1960 $1,389 $532

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

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

Denmark vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Denmark South Africa
2026 82.4 66.7
2025 82.2 66.5
2024 82.1 66.3
2023 81.9 66.1
2022 81.3 65.5
2021 81.4 62
2020 81.5 65.2
2019 81.4 66.1
2018 81 65.7
2017 81.1 65.4
2016 80.9 64.7
2015 80.7 64.1
2014 80.6 63.2
2013 80.3 62.4
2012 80.1 61.7
2011 79.8 60.6
2010 79.2 58.9
2009 79 57.4
2008 78.7 56
2007 78.3 54.9
2006 78.2 54.2
2005 78.2 53.9
2004 77.8 54
2003 77.4 54.2
2002 77.1 55.6
2001 77 57.2
2000 76.8 58.4
1999 76.6 59.2
1998 76.4 59.9
1997 76 60.5
1996 75.7 61.1
1995 75.3 61.6
1994 75.4 62.1
1993 75.2 62.6
1992 75.3 62.8
1991 75.2 63
1990 74.9 62.9
1989 74.9 63
1988 74.8 62.9
1987 74.7 62.7
1986 74.6 62.4
1985 74.5 62.2
1984 74.6 61.8
1983 74.5 61.4
1982 74.6 60.9
1981 74.3 60.4
1980 74.1 60
1979 74.2 59.5
1978 74.4 59
1977 74.7 58.5
1976 73.8 58
1975 74.1 57.6
1974 73.8 57.1
1973 73.7 56.7
1972 73.5 56.4
1971 73.4 56
1970 73.4 55.7
1969 73.2 55.4
1968 73.1 55.2
1967 73 55
1966 72.5 54.7
1965 72.4 54.4
1964 72.5 54.2
1963 72.4 53.9
1962 72.4 53.6
1961 72.5 53.1
1960 72.2 52.6
1959 72.2 51.9
1958 72.2 51.1
1957 71.8 50.2
1956 72 49.2
1955 71.9 48.2
1954 71.3 47.1
1953 71.2 46.1
1952 70.8 45
1951 70.9 44.1
1950 70.3 43.1

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

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

Denmark and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Denmark South Africa
2024 5,976,992 64,007,187
2023 5,946,952 63,212,384
2022 5,903,037 62,378,410
2021 5,856,733 61,502,603
2020 5,831,404 60,562,381
2019 5,814,422 59,587,885
2018 5,793,636 58,613,001
2017 5,764,980 57,635,162
2016 5,728,010 57,259,551
2015 5,683,483 56,723,537
2014 5,643,475 55,594,838
2013 5,614,932 54,678,791
2012 5,591,572 53,782,567
2011 5,570,572 52,995,205
2010 5,547,683 52,344,051
2009 5,523,095 51,728,516
2008 5,493,621 51,114,599
2007 5,461,438 50,528,584
2006 5,437,272 49,998,277
2005 5,419,432 49,490,033
2004 5,404,523 48,991,421
2003 5,390,574 48,500,348
2002 5,375,931 48,019,415
2001 5,358,783 47,566,800
2000 5,339,616 47,159,719
1999 5,321,799 46,730,335
1998 5,304,219 46,223,880
1997 5,284,991 45,666,838
1996 5,263,074 45,123,018
1995 5,233,373 44,541,554
1994 5,206,180 44,004,139
1993 5,188,628 43,297,156
1992 5,171,370 42,443,509
1991 5,154,298 41,687,898
1990 5,140,939 40,746,268
1989 5,132,594 39,628,575
1988 5,129,516 38,480,649
1987 5,127,024 37,326,190
1986 5,120,534 36,180,515
1985 5,113,691 35,042,093
1984 5,111,619 33,892,788
1983 5,114,297 32,739,304
1982 5,117,810 31,615,339
1981 5,121,572 30,541,044
1980 5,123,027 29,518,857
1979 5,116,801 28,634,162
1978 5,104,248 27,869,507
1977 5,088,419 27,118,952
1976 5,072,596 26,395,450
1975 5,059,862 25,690,940
1974 5,045,297 24,989,108
1973 5,021,861 24,294,263
1972 4,991,596 23,609,456
1971 4,963,126 22,942,143
1970 4,928,757 22,279,984
1969 4,891,860 21,614,676
1968 4,864,883 20,957,287
1967 4,835,354 20,314,066
1966 4,797,381 19,690,087
1965 4,759,012 19,089,380
1964 4,722,072 18,511,361
1963 4,684,483 17,954,564
1962 4,647,727 17,418,522
1961 4,611,687 16,908,035
1960 4,579,603 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Denmark and South Africa

Fertility rate
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Denmark South Africa
2023 1.5 2.22
2022 1.55 2.23
2021 1.72 2.25
2020 1.68 2.26
2019 1.7 2.26
2018 1.73 2.27
2017 1.75 2.28
2016 1.79 2.26
2015 1.71 2.36
2014 1.69 2.42
2013 1.67 2.43
2012 1.73 2.45
2011 1.75 2.44
2010 1.87 2.44
2009 1.84 2.5
2008 1.89 2.68
2007 1.84 2.55
2006 1.85 2.55
2005 1.8 2.51
2004 1.78 2.44
2003 1.76 2.36
2002 1.72 2.32
2001 1.74 2.37
2000 1.77 2.41
1999 1.73 2.56
1998 1.72 2.63
1997 1.75 2.73
1996 1.75 2.99
1995 1.8 3.17
1994 1.81 3.26
1993 1.75 3.37
1992 1.76 3.48
1991 1.68 3.62
1990 1.67 3.72
1989 1.62 3.98
1988 1.56 4.18
1987 1.5 4.35
1986 1.48 4.41
1985 1.45 4.5
1984 1.4 4.57
1983 1.38 4.63
1982 1.43 4.7
1981 1.44 4.71
1980 1.55 4.78
1979 1.6 4.82
1978 1.67 4.85
1977 1.66 4.94
1976 1.75 5.07
1975 1.92 5.19
1974 1.9 5.3
1973 1.92 5.41
1972 2.03 5.49
1971 2.04 5.57
1970 1.95 5.63
1969 2 5.72
1968 2.12 5.78
1967 2.35 5.85
1966 2.62 5.91
1965 2.61 5.89
1964 2.6 5.96
1963 2.67 6.01
1962 2.55 6.05
1961 2.55 6.08
1960 2.57 6.11

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

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

Denmark and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Denmark

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Denmark South Africa
2024 42.3 29.5
2023 42.2 29.2
2022 42.1 28.9
2021 42.2 28.6
2020 42.1 28.3
2019 41.9 27.9
2018 41.8 27.5
2017 41.7 27
2016 41.6 26.7
2015 41.5 26.4
2014 41.4 26
2013 41.2 25.7
2012 41 25.3
2011 40.7 25
2010 40.5 24.6
2009 40.4 24.3
2008 40.2 24
2007 40.1 23.8
2006 39.8 23.5
2005 39.5 23.3
2004 39.2 23.1
2003 39 22.8
2002 38.8 22.4
2001 38.6 22.2
2000 38.4 21.9
1999 38.2 21.6
1998 38 21.4
1997 37.9 21.2
1996 37.7 21.2
1995 37.7 21.5
1994 37.6 22
1993 37.5 21.9
1992 37.4 21.5
1991 37.3 21.5
1990 37.1 21.3
1989 36.9 21.1
1988 36.7 20.9
1987 36.5 20.7
1986 36.2 20.5
1985 36 20.4
1984 35.7 20.2
1983 35.5 20
1982 35.1 19.8
1981 34.7 19.6
1980 34.3 19.4
1979 33.9 19.3
1978 33.7 19.2
1977 33.4 19.1
1976 33.2 19
1975 33 18.9
1974 32.8 18.9
1973 32.7 18.8
1972 32.6 18.8
1971 32.5 18.8
1970 32.5 18.8
1969 32.5 18.8
1968 32.5 18.8
1967 32.5 18.8
1966 32.6 18.8
1965 32.8 18.8
1964 32.9 18.9
1963 33 18.9
1962 33 18.9
1961 33.1 19
1960 33 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Denmark South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$434B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.3%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.36%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.42%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
15,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.46%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.15%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.1%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
79
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
376,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
8.02%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
9
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
178
2004
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$151B
2004
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$108B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.52B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
15,595,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.5%
2018
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.7%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Denmark South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,483 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$31.4
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
25.6 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
4.28 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
50%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
39.5%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
13.8%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
43.8%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
5,878 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
79%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.06%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Denmark South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+22,103
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
88.7%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.56 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
98.4
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
89
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.84
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.7
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
86.1%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
99.8%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Denmark South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,745
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$935
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
82.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2022
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.5
2021
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.1 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
13.6%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
84
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.49 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Denmark South Africa
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
2,584 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,120 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,437 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
45,717 mi
2010
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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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