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Estonia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Estonia has a population of 1.37M (ranked 153/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Estonia's land area is 16,498 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 129th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Estonia ranks 100/197 ($43.1B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Estonia ranks 40/197 ($31,428), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Estonia South Africa
Population
1339590
65683993
Population rank 155/197 24/197
GDP
$43.1B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 100/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$31,428
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 40/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,969
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$10.1B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
23.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$7,356
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 65/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,740
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 16,498 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
81.2 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.31
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
43.3 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
79.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Estonia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Estonia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Estonia South Africa
2024 $43,130,419,829 $401,144,998,374
2023 $41,470,344,395 $381,440,724,491
2022 $38,226,641,740 $407,596,043,068
2021 $37,201,101,171 $419,986,284,375
2020 $31,820,771,494 $337,974,655,408
2019 $31,873,748,770 $389,330,032,224
2018 $31,222,632,741 $405,260,723,893
2017 $27,469,461,919 $381,448,814,653
2016 $24,561,027,788 $323,585,509,674
2015 $23,311,847,751 $346,709,790,459
2014 $27,055,689,003 $381,198,869,776
2013 $25,451,032,781 $400,886,013,596
2012 $23,237,406,116 $434,400,545,086
2011 $23,303,915,795 $458,199,494,831
2010 $19,524,355,419 $417,363,822,802
2009 $19,633,984,440 $329,754,060,647
2008 $24,342,935,404 $316,131,258,616
2007 $22,450,264,166 $333,077,117,254
2006 $17,025,671,810 $303,858,675,364
2005 $14,109,491,357 $288,867,217,197
2004 $12,148,595,031 $255,806,908,595
2003 $9,876,595,528 $197,018,965,309
2002 $7,370,119,619 $129,087,556,612
2001 $6,250,218,423 $135,429,905,923
2000 $5,686,579,748 $151,752,757,215
1999 $5,756,912,266 $151,516,957,079
1998 $5,674,080,543 $152,982,984,557
1997 $5,154,420,649 $168,978,057,328
1996 $4,786,018,988 $163,234,925,381
1995 $4,502,970,889 $171,735,933,897
1994 $4,123,011,420 $153,512,712,382
1993 $4,013,091,682 $147,194,747,566
1992 - $146,956,150,987
1991 - $135,203,698,238
1990 - $126,048,140,142
1989 - $108,055,624,082
1988 - $103,976,831,871
1987 - $96,535,763,418
1986 - $73,354,771,399
1985 - $64,459,376,087
1984 - $84,870,163,366
1983 - $96,204,110,942
1982 - $85,904,057,409
1981 - $93,141,472,164
1980 - $89,411,864,402
1979 - $63,038,658,089
1978 - $51,607,412,902
1977 - $45,328,411,332
1976 - $41,150,460,288
1975 - $42,906,905,672
1974 - $41,389,186,095
1973 - $33,262,772,008
1972 - $24,515,919,217
1971 - $23,411,076,638
1970 - $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

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

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

Estonia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Estonia South Africa
2024 $31,428 $6,267
2023 $30,264 $6,034
2022 $28,340 $6,534
2021 $27,951 $6,829
2020 $23,934 $5,581
2019 $24,021 $6,534
2018 $23,618 $6,914
2017 $20,852 $6,618
2016 $18,666 $5,651
2015 $17,722 $6,112
2014 $20,582 $6,857
2013 $19,310 $7,332
2012 $17,568 $8,077
2011 $17,556 $8,646
2010 $14,664 $7,973
2009 $14,712 $6,375
2008 $18,206 $6,185
2007 $16,745 $6,592
2006 $12,641 $6,077
2005 $10,415 $5,837
2004 $8,916 $5,221
2003 $7,205 $4,062
2002 $5,343 $2,688
2001 $4,503 $2,847
2000 $4,071 $3,218
1999 $4,141 $3,242
1998 $4,093 $3,310
1997 $3,683 $3,700
1996 $3,381 $3,618
1995 $3,134 $3,856
1994 $2,819 $3,489
1993 $2,686 $3,400
1992 - $3,462
1991 - $3,243
1990 - $3,093
1989 - $2,727
1988 - $2,702
1987 - $2,586
1986 - $2,027
1985 - $1,839
1984 - $2,504
1983 - $2,938
1982 - $2,717
1981 - $3,050
1980 - $3,029
1979 - $2,202
1978 - $1,852
1977 - $1,671
1976 - $1,559
1975 - $1,670
1974 - $1,656
1973 - $1,369
1972 - $1,038
1971 - $1,020
1970 - $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

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

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

Estonia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Estonia South Africa
2026 79.6 66.7
2025 79.5 66.5
2024 79.3 66.3
2023 79.2 66.1
2022 78.2 65.5
2021 77.4 62
2020 78.9 65.2
2019 78.8 66.1
2018 78.3 65.7
2017 78.2 65.4
2016 77.8 64.7
2015 77.7 64.1
2014 77.1 63.2
2013 77.3 62.4
2012 76.4 61.7
2011 76.3 60.6
2010 75.9 58.9
2009 75.2 57.4
2008 74.3 56
2007 73.2 54.9
2006 73.2 54.2
2005 73 53.9
2004 72.4 54
2003 71.9 54.2
2002 71.4 55.6
2001 70.8 57.2
2000 71 58.4
1999 70.7 59.2
1998 69.8 59.9
1997 70.2 60.5
1996 70 61.1
1995 67.8 61.6
1994 66.7 62.1
1993 68.2 62.6
1992 69.2 62.8
1991 69.8 63
1990 69.9 62.9
1989 70.5 63
1988 71 62.9
1987 70.9 62.7
1986 70.9 62.4
1985 69.8 62.2
1984 69.6 61.8
1983 69.8 61.4
1982 69.9 60.9
1981 69.3 60.4
1980 69.5 60
1979 69.4 59.5
1978 69.7 59
1977 69.8 58.5
1976 69.7 58
1975 70.1 57.6
1974 70.8 57.1
1973 70.7 56.7
1972 70.4 56.4
1971 70.6 56
1970 70.4 55.7
1969 70.3 55.4
1968 70.6 55.2
1967 71 55
1966 70.7 54.7
1965 70.7 54.4
1964 70.6 54.2
1963 69.9 53.9
1962 69.8 53.6
1961 69.6 53.1
1960 69.3 52.6
1959 68.7 51.9
1958 68.8 51.1
1957 68.8 50.2
1956 68.5 49.2
1955 68.2 48.2
1954 67.8 47.1
1953 67.5 46.1
1952 67.2 45
1951 66.8 44.1
1950 66.4 43.1

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

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

Estonia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Estonia South Africa
2024 1,372,341 64,007,187
2023 1,370,286 63,212,384
2022 1,348,840 62,378,410
2021 1,330,932 61,502,603
2020 1,329,522 60,562,381
2019 1,326,898 59,587,885
2018 1,321,977 58,613,001
2017 1,317,384 57,635,162
2016 1,315,790 57,259,551
2015 1,315,407 56,723,537
2014 1,314,545 55,594,838
2013 1,317,997 54,678,791
2012 1,322,696 53,782,567
2011 1,327,439 52,995,205
2010 1,331,475 52,344,051
2009 1,334,515 51,728,516
2008 1,337,090 51,114,599
2007 1,340,680 50,528,584
2006 1,346,810 49,998,277
2005 1,354,775 49,490,033
2004 1,362,550 48,991,421
2003 1,370,720 48,500,348
2002 1,379,350 48,019,415
2001 1,388,115 47,566,800
2000 1,396,985 47,159,719
1999 1,390,244 46,730,335
1998 1,386,156 46,223,880
1997 1,399,535 45,666,838
1996 1,415,594 45,123,018
1995 1,436,634 44,541,554
1994 1,462,514 44,004,139
1993 1,494,128 43,297,156
1992 1,533,091 42,443,509
1991 1,561,314 41,687,898
1990 1,569,174 40,746,268
1989 1,568,131 39,628,575
1988 1,561,900 38,480,649
1987 1,552,221 37,326,190
1986 1,540,190 36,180,515
1985 1,528,781 35,042,093
1984 1,518,617 33,892,788
1983 1,508,745 32,739,304
1982 1,498,414 31,615,339
1981 1,487,666 30,541,044
1980 1,477,219 29,518,857
1979 1,468,333 28,634,162
1978 1,460,188 27,869,507
1977 1,450,211 27,118,952
1976 1,439,576 26,395,450
1975 1,429,352 25,690,940
1974 1,418,169 24,989,108
1973 1,405,951 24,294,263
1972 1,392,518 23,609,456
1971 1,376,955 22,942,143
1970 1,360,076 22,279,984
1969 1,345,249 21,614,676
1968 1,331,214 20,957,287
1967 1,318,946 20,314,066
1966 1,308,597 19,690,087
1965 1,294,566 19,089,380
1964 1,277,086 18,511,361
1963 1,258,857 17,954,564
1962 1,241,623 17,418,522
1961 1,225,077 16,908,035
1960 1,211,537 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Estonia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Estonia South Africa
2023 1.31 2.22
2022 1.41 2.23
2021 1.61 2.25
2020 1.58 2.26
2019 1.66 2.26
2018 1.67 2.27
2017 1.59 2.28
2016 1.6 2.26
2015 1.58 2.36
2014 1.54 2.42
2013 1.52 2.43
2012 1.56 2.45
2011 1.61 2.44
2010 1.72 2.44
2009 1.7 2.5
2008 1.72 2.68
2007 1.69 2.55
2006 1.58 2.55
2005 1.52 2.51
2004 1.47 2.44
2003 1.37 2.36
2002 1.36 2.32
2001 1.32 2.37
2000 1.36 2.41
1999 1.3 2.56
1998 1.28 2.63
1997 1.32 2.73
1996 1.37 2.99
1995 1.38 3.17
1994 1.42 3.26
1993 1.49 3.37
1992 1.71 3.48
1991 1.8 3.62
1990 2.05 3.72
1989 2.22 3.98
1988 2.27 4.18
1987 2.27 4.35
1986 2.18 4.41
1985 2.13 4.5
1984 2.17 4.57
1983 2.16 4.63
1982 2.07 4.7
1981 2.07 4.71
1980 2.02 4.78
1979 2 4.82
1978 2.02 4.85
1977 2.06 4.94
1976 2.07 5.07
1975 2.04 5.19
1974 2.07 5.3
1973 2.06 5.41
1972 2.13 5.49
1971 2.19 5.57
1970 2.17 5.63
1969 2.13 5.72
1968 2.03 5.78
1967 1.9 5.85
1966 1.87 5.91
1965 1.88 5.89
1964 1.94 5.96
1963 1.89 6.01
1962 1.95 6.05
1961 1.98 6.08
1960 1.98 6.11

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

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

Estonia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Estonia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Estonia South Africa
2024 43.3 29.5
2023 42.9 29.2
2022 42.7 28.9
2021 42.5 28.6
2020 42.4 28.3
2019 42.2 27.9
2018 42 27.5
2017 41.9 27
2016 41.7 26.7
2015 41.5 26.4
2014 41.4 26
2013 41.1 25.7
2012 40.9 25.3
2011 40.6 25
2010 40.3 24.6
2009 40 24.3
2008 39.8 24
2007 39.7 23.8
2006 39.6 23.5
2005 39.3 23.3
2004 39.1 23.1
2003 38.8 22.8
2002 38.5 22.4
2001 38.3 22.2
2000 38 21.9
1999 37.6 21.6
1998 37.3 21.4
1997 37 21.2
1996 36.7 21.2
1995 36.3 21.5
1994 36 22
1993 35.6 21.9
1992 35 21.5
1991 34.6 21.5
1990 34.3 21.3
1989 34.2 21.1
1988 34.1 20.9
1987 34 20.7
1986 34 20.5
1985 33.9 20.4
1984 33.9 20.2
1983 33.9 20
1982 33.8 19.8
1981 33.8 19.6
1980 33.9 19.4
1979 34 19.3
1978 34.2 19.2
1977 34.3 19.1
1976 34.3 19
1975 34.2 18.9
1974 34.2 18.9
1973 34.1 18.8
1972 33.9 18.8
1971 33.8 18.8
1970 33.7 18.8
1969 33.7 18.8
1968 33.6 18.8
1967 33.4 18.8
1966 33.2 18.8
1965 33 18.8
1964 32.8 18.9
1963 32.7 18.9
1962 32.5 18.9
1961 32.4 19
1960 32.2 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Estonia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$39.6B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.6%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.21%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
3.37%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
7,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.51%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
7.5%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
65.7%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
78.7
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.7%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
2
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
14
2003
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.07B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$496M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,695,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.98%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.9%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Estonia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,089 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
10.6 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.76 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
60.9%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
38%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.9%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
3.77%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
5,722 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
40%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.42%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Estonia South Africa
% of world population
0.02%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-13,350
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
70.7%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
47.5:52.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
6 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.53 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
83.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.54
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4.5
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
171
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.9%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
50.2%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
92.2%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Estonia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$2,438
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$521
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
79.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.009%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.47
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
28.7 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
5
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.1
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
22.8%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
95
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
28.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.7 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Estonia South Africa
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
12,022 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
3,815 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
9,415 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
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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