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Finland vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a population of 5.62M (ranked 116/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Finland's land area is 117,360 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 70th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Finland ranks 47/197 ($299B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Finland ranks 23/197 ($53,150), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Finland South Africa
Population
5631965
65683993
Population rank 120/197 24/197
GDP
$299B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 47/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$53,150
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 23/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$65,378
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$245B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
82.1%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,662
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 12/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$36,394
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 117,360 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
48 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.26
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
44 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Finland and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Finland and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Finland South Africa
2024 $298,696,961,298 $401,144,998,374
2023 $295,021,982,463 $381,440,724,491
2022 $280,253,099,309 $407,596,043,068
2021 $294,223,210,496 $419,986,284,375
2020 $270,000,311,606 $337,974,655,408
2019 $267,014,821,129 $389,330,032,224
2018 $273,869,255,596 $405,260,723,893
2017 $253,846,138,440 $381,448,814,653
2016 $238,777,818,793 $323,585,509,674
2015 $233,210,733,506 $346,709,790,459
2014 $273,478,528,955 $381,198,869,776
2013 $270,268,036,626 $400,886,013,596
2012 $257,443,384,493 $434,400,545,086
2011 $275,126,915,516 $458,199,494,831
2010 $249,429,613,683 $417,363,822,802
2009 $253,480,783,439 $329,754,060,647
2008 $285,698,662,071 $316,131,258,616
2007 $256,360,251,538 $333,077,117,254
2006 $217,044,068,234 $303,858,675,364
2005 $204,859,368,791 $288,867,217,197
2004 $197,458,297,640 $255,806,908,595
2003 $171,612,867,736 $197,018,965,309
2002 $140,360,963,812 $129,087,556,612
2001 $129,519,672,869 $135,429,905,923
2000 $125,967,821,111 $151,752,757,215
1999 $135,234,241,918 $151,516,957,079
1998 $133,990,876,725 $152,982,984,557
1997 $126,862,902,302 $168,978,057,328
1996 $131,991,975,149 $163,234,925,381
1995 $134,060,457,516 $171,735,933,897
1994 $103,182,697,780 $153,512,712,382
1993 $89,112,105,756 $147,194,747,566
1992 $112,537,828,511 $146,956,150,987
1991 $127,794,441,994 $135,203,698,238
1990 $141,446,120,355 $126,048,140,142
1989 $118,991,270,611 $108,055,624,082
1988 $109,039,090,263 $103,976,831,871
1987 $91,564,993,913 $96,535,763,418
1986 $73,511,611,541 $73,354,771,399
1985 $55,856,676,899 $64,459,376,087
1984 $52,870,993,273 $84,870,163,366
1983 $50,956,447,481 $96,204,110,942
1982 $52,784,013,815 $85,904,057,409
1981 $52,440,066,134 $93,141,472,164
1980 $53,649,984,061 $89,411,864,402
1979 $44,469,218,440 $63,038,658,089
1978 $36,259,392,058 $51,607,412,902
1977 $33,502,784,418 $45,328,411,332
1976 $31,852,352,670 $41,150,460,288
1975 $29,475,251,333 $42,906,905,672
1974 $24,851,036,710 $41,389,186,095
1973 $19,474,098,335 $33,262,772,008
1972 $14,744,499,570 $24,515,919,217
1971 $12,528,522,307 $23,411,076,638
1970 $11,358,529,162 $21,218,391,513
1969 $10,177,524,839 $19,256,992,297
1968 $8,916,565,041 $17,124,793,150
1967 $9,468,272,357 $15,821,393,671
1966 $9,306,142,172 $14,211,394,315
1965 $8,680,393,839 $13,068,994,772
1964 $7,848,987,793 $11,955,995,218
1963 $6,958,916,548 $10,854,195,658
1962 $6,407,796,043 $9,813,996,074
1961 $5,984,433,774 $9,225,996,310
1960 $5,279,481,824 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Finland and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Finland South Africa
2024 $53,150 $6,267
2023 $52,834 $6,034
2022 $50,441 $6,534
2021 $53,099 $6,829
2020 $48,829 $5,581
2019 $48,358 $6,534
2018 $49,654 $6,914
2017 $46,085 $6,618
2016 $43,451 $5,651
2015 $42,560 $6,112
2014 $50,074 $6,857
2013 $49,691 $7,332
2012 $47,552 $8,077
2011 $51,060 $8,646
2010 $46,506 $7,973
2009 $47,478 $6,375
2008 $53,769 $6,185
2007 $48,473 $6,592
2006 $41,214 $6,077
2005 $39,050 $5,837
2004 $37,768 $5,221
2003 $32,920 $4,062
2002 $26,989 $2,688
2001 $24,965 $2,847
2000 $24,336 $3,218
1999 $26,180 $3,242
1998 $26,000 $3,310
1997 $24,682 $3,700
1996 $25,757 $3,618
1995 $26,246 $3,856
1994 $20,278 $3,489
1993 $17,589 $3,400
1992 $22,320 $3,462
1991 $25,489 $3,243
1990 $28,366 $3,093
1989 $23,969 $2,727
1988 $22,044 $2,702
1987 $18,565 $2,586
1986 $14,947 $2,027
1985 $11,394 $1,839
1984 $10,830 $2,504
1983 $10,494 $2,938
1982 $10,935 $2,717
1981 $10,925 $3,050
1980 $11,225 $3,029
1979 $9,333 $2,202
1978 $7,629 $1,852
1977 $7,070 $1,671
1976 $6,740 $1,559
1975 $6,256 $1,670
1974 $5,298 $1,656
1973 $4,174 $1,369
1972 $3,178 $1,038
1971 $2,716 $1,020
1970 $2,466 $952
1969 $2,201 $891
1968 $1,927 $817
1967 $2,056 $779
1966 $2,032 $722
1965 $1,902 $685
1964 $1,726 $646
1963 $1,538 $605
1962 $1,427 $563
1961 $1,341 $546
1960 $1,192 $532

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

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

Finland vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Finland South Africa
2026 82.4 66.7
2025 82.2 66.5
2024 82.1 66.3
2023 81.9 66.1
2022 81.2 65.5
2021 81.8 62
2020 81.8 65.2
2019 81.9 66.1
2018 81.6 65.7
2017 81.5 65.4
2016 81.3 64.7
2015 81.4 64.1
2014 81.1 63.2
2013 80.9 62.4
2012 80.5 61.7
2011 80.4 60.6
2010 80 58.9
2009 79.8 57.4
2008 79.7 56
2007 79.4 54.9
2006 79.4 54.2
2005 79 53.9
2004 78.8 54
2003 78.5 54.2
2002 78.3 55.6
2001 78.1 57.2
2000 77.7 58.4
1999 77.5 59.2
1998 77.3 59.9
1997 77.1 60.5
1996 76.9 61.1
1995 76.6 61.6
1994 76.6 62.1
1993 75.9 62.6
1992 75.6 62.8
1991 75.4 63
1990 75 62.9
1989 75 63
1988 74.8 62.9
1987 74.8 62.7
1986 74.8 62.4
1985 74.4 62.2
1984 74.7 61.8
1983 74.4 61.4
1982 74.5 60.9
1981 74 60.4
1980 73.6 60
1979 73.4 59.5
1978 73.1 59
1977 72.5 58.5
1976 72 58
1975 71.8 57.6
1974 71.3 57.1
1973 71.4 56.7
1972 70.9 56.4
1971 70.1 56
1970 70.3 55.7
1969 69.6 55.4
1968 69.8 55.2
1967 69.8 55
1966 69.6 54.7
1965 69.1 54.4
1964 69.4 54.2
1963 69.2 53.9
1962 68.7 53.6
1961 69 53.1
1960 69 52.6
1959 68.8 51.9
1958 68.6 51.1
1957 67.5 50.2
1956 68 49.2
1955 67.3 48.2
1954 67.5 47.1
1953 66.6 46.1
1952 66.5 45
1951 65.6 44.1
1950 64.2 43.1

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

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

Finland and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Finland South Africa
2024 5,619,911 64,007,187
2023 5,583,911 63,212,384
2022 5,556,106 62,378,410
2021 5,541,017 61,502,603
2020 5,529,543 60,562,381
2019 5,521,606 59,587,885
2018 5,515,525 58,613,001
2017 5,508,214 57,635,162
2016 5,495,303 57,259,551
2015 5,479,531 56,723,537
2014 5,461,512 55,594,838
2013 5,438,972 54,678,791
2012 5,413,971 53,782,567
2011 5,388,272 52,995,205
2010 5,363,352 52,344,051
2009 5,338,871 51,728,516
2008 5,313,399 51,114,599
2007 5,288,720 50,528,584
2006 5,266,268 49,998,277
2005 5,246,096 49,490,033
2004 5,228,172 48,991,421
2003 5,213,014 48,500,348
2002 5,200,598 48,019,415
2001 5,188,008 47,566,800
2000 5,176,209 47,159,719
1999 5,165,474 46,730,335
1998 5,153,498 46,223,880
1997 5,139,835 45,666,838
1996 5,124,573 45,123,018
1995 5,107,790 44,541,554
1994 5,088,333 44,004,139
1993 5,066,447 43,297,156
1992 5,041,992 42,443,509
1991 5,013,740 41,687,898
1990 4,986,431 40,746,268
1989 4,964,371 39,628,575
1988 4,946,481 38,480,649
1987 4,932,123 37,326,190
1986 4,918,154 36,180,515
1985 4,902,206 35,042,093
1984 4,881,803 33,892,788
1983 4,855,787 32,739,304
1982 4,826,933 31,615,339
1981 4,799,964 30,541,044
1980 4,779,535 29,518,857
1979 4,764,690 28,634,162
1978 4,752,528 27,869,507
1977 4,738,902 27,118,952
1976 4,725,664 26,395,450
1975 4,711,440 25,690,940
1974 4,690,574 24,989,108
1973 4,666,081 24,294,263
1972 4,639,657 23,609,456
1971 4,612,124 22,942,143
1970 4,606,307 22,279,984
1969 4,623,785 21,614,676
1968 4,626,469 20,957,287
1967 4,605,744 20,314,066
1966 4,580,869 19,690,087
1965 4,563,732 19,089,380
1964 4,548,543 18,511,361
1963 4,523,309 17,954,564
1962 4,491,443 17,418,522
1961 4,461,005 16,908,035
1960 4,429,634 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Finland and South Africa

Fertility rate
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Finland South Africa
2023 1.26 2.22
2022 1.32 2.23
2021 1.46 2.25
2020 1.37 2.26
2019 1.35 2.26
2018 1.41 2.27
2017 1.49 2.28
2016 1.57 2.26
2015 1.65 2.36
2014 1.71 2.42
2013 1.75 2.43
2012 1.8 2.45
2011 1.83 2.44
2010 1.87 2.44
2009 1.86 2.5
2008 1.85 2.68
2007 1.83 2.55
2006 1.84 2.55
2005 1.8 2.51
2004 1.8 2.44
2003 1.76 2.36
2002 1.72 2.32
2001 1.73 2.37
2000 1.73 2.41
1999 1.73 2.56
1998 1.7 2.63
1997 1.75 2.73
1996 1.78 2.99
1995 1.81 3.17
1994 1.85 3.26
1993 1.81 3.37
1992 1.85 3.48
1991 1.79 3.62
1990 1.78 3.72
1989 1.71 3.98
1988 1.69 4.18
1987 1.59 4.35
1986 1.6 4.41
1985 1.64 4.5
1984 1.69 4.57
1983 1.74 4.63
1982 1.71 4.7
1981 1.64 4.71
1980 1.63 4.78
1979 1.64 4.82
1978 1.64 4.85
1977 1.68 4.94
1976 1.7 5.07
1975 1.68 5.19
1974 1.61 5.3
1973 1.49 5.41
1972 1.58 5.49
1971 1.68 5.57
1970 1.83 5.63
1969 1.93 5.72
1968 2.14 5.78
1967 2.32 5.85
1966 2.41 5.91
1965 2.48 5.89
1964 2.59 5.96
1963 2.68 6.01
1962 2.68 6.05
1961 2.72 6.08
1960 2.72 6.11

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

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

Finland and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Finland

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Finland South Africa
2024 44 29.5
2023 43.8 29.2
2022 43.5 28.9
2021 43.3 28.6
2020 43.2 28.3
2019 43 27.9
2018 42.8 27.5
2017 42.7 27
2016 42.6 26.7
2015 42.5 26.4
2014 42.4 26
2013 42.3 25.7
2012 42.2 25.3
2011 42.1 25
2010 41.9 24.6
2009 41.8 24.3
2008 41.6 24
2007 41.4 23.8
2006 41.2 23.5
2005 40.9 23.3
2004 40.6 23.1
2003 40.3 22.8
2002 40 22.4
2001 39.7 22.2
2000 39.4 21.9
1999 39 21.6
1998 38.7 21.4
1997 38.4 21.2
1996 38.1 21.2
1995 37.8 21.5
1994 37.5 22
1993 37.2 21.9
1992 37 21.5
1991 36.7 21.5
1990 36.4 21.3
1989 36.1 21.1
1988 35.8 20.9
1987 35.4 20.7
1986 35.1 20.5
1985 34.7 20.4
1984 34.3 20.2
1983 33.9 20
1982 33.5 19.8
1981 33.2 19.6
1980 32.8 19.4
1979 32.4 19.3
1978 32.1 19.2
1977 31.7 19.1
1976 31.2 19
1975 30.7 18.9
1974 30.4 18.9
1973 30.2 18.8
1972 30.1 18.8
1971 29.9 18.8
1970 29.6 18.8
1969 29.3 18.8
1968 29 18.8
1967 28.9 18.8
1966 28.8 18.8
1965 28.7 18.8
1964 28.6 18.9
1963 28.5 18.9
1962 28.5 18.9
1961 28.4 19
1960 28.4 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Finland South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$290B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
57.7%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.38%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.3%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
22,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.41%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
8.34%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
62.2%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
76.6
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.5%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
134
2004
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$20.3B
2004
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$18B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$749M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
896,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.79%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
99.8%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Finland South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,867 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
31.1 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.54 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
32.7%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
50.2%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
35.4%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
30.3%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
14,391 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
52.9%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
18.6%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
42.1%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Finland South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+18,246
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
74.3%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.93 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.46 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
92.9
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
88
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
95
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.98
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.9
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2000
91.2%
2024
English speaking
70.2%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
93.5%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Finland South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,515
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$777
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
82.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.006%
2020
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.61
2021
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
8
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.3
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
22%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
92
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.08 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Finland South Africa
% of world land
0.2%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
20,883 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
8,734 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
86,522 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
282,103 mi
2019
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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