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France vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

France has a population of 68.6M (ranked 23/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). France's land area is 208,090 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 48th vs. 24th).

By GDP, France ranks 7/197 ($3.16T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, France ranks 27/197 ($46,103), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

France South Africa
Population
68788006
65683993
Population rank 23/197 24/197
GDP
$3.16T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 7/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$46,103
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 27/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$62,557
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$3.58T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
113.1%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$52,165
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 8/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,669
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 208,090 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
330 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.66
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
43 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

France and South Africa: Comparison Charts

France and South Africa economies compared

GDP
France

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
France South Africa
2024 $3,160,442,622,465 $401,144,998,374
2023 $3,056,250,648,138 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,794,788,137,067 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,966,433,692,008 $419,986,284,375
2020 $2,647,926,055,110 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,722,793,515,172 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,781,576,320,884 $405,260,723,893
2017 $2,588,868,323,335 $381,448,814,653
2016 $2,470,407,619,777 $323,585,509,674
2015 $2,442,483,452,643 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,861,236,112,552 $381,198,869,776
2013 $2,816,077,607,875 $400,886,013,596
2012 $2,683,007,095,787 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,870,408,553,990 $458,199,494,831
2010 $2,646,230,027,988 $417,363,822,802
2009 $2,700,075,882,519 $329,754,060,647
2008 $2,926,802,941,586 $316,131,258,616
2007 $2,655,816,911,867 $333,077,117,254
2006 $2,317,861,544,691 $303,858,675,364
2005 $2,192,146,403,028 $288,867,217,197
2004 $2,109,792,297,237 $255,806,908,595
2003 $1,835,095,983,049 $197,018,965,309
2002 $1,492,427,756,382 $129,087,556,612
2001 $1,370,376,677,299 $135,429,905,923
2000 $1,360,959,069,477 $151,752,757,215
1999 $1,486,915,879,702 $151,516,957,079
1998 $1,496,906,382,032 $152,982,984,557
1997 $1,449,392,222,971 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,598,889,216,566 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,595,219,345,512 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,385,822,778,828 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,314,383,368,080 $147,194,747,566
1992 $1,389,663,073,110 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,258,961,748,634 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,257,649,439,827 $126,048,140,142
1989 $1,016,742,237,302 $108,055,624,082
1988 $1,010,827,662,152 $103,976,831,871
1987 $926,320,855,615 $96,535,763,418
1986 $764,946,585,851 $73,354,771,399
1985 $547,220,981,165 $64,459,376,087
1984 $525,033,325,828 $84,870,163,366
1983 $553,356,312,936 $96,204,110,942
1982 $578,152,310,610 $85,904,057,409
1981 $609,184,791,792 $93,141,472,164
1980 $694,529,183,483 $89,411,864,402
1979 $608,218,624,730 $63,038,658,089
1978 $501,724,418,605 $51,607,412,902
1977 $406,401,711,688 $45,328,411,332
1976 $368,363,152,144 $41,150,460,288
1975 $357,324,307,786 $42,906,905,672
1974 $282,739,225,314 $41,389,186,095
1973 $261,970,536,240 $33,262,772,008
1972 $201,738,881,664 $24,515,919,217
1971 $164,694,210,962 $23,411,076,638
1970 $147,312,861,698 $21,218,391,513
1969 $140,660,914,841 $19,256,992,297
1968 $128,710,572,572 $17,124,793,150
1967 $118,088,635,381 $15,821,393,671
1966 $109,306,730,313 $14,211,394,315
1965 $100,927,668,584 $13,068,994,772
1964 $93,424,179,943 $11,955,995,218
1963 $84,227,606,650 $10,854,195,658
1962 $75,196,980,365 $9,813,996,074
1961 $67,158,050,215 $9,225,996,310
1960 $61,959,085,885 $8,748,596,501

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

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

France and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
France

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
France South Africa
2024 $46,103 $6,267
2023 $44,700 $6,034
2022 $40,989 $6,534
2021 $43,725 $6,829
2020 $39,170 $5,581
2019 $40,408 $6,534
2018 $41,418 $6,914
2017 $38,687 $6,618
2016 $37,024 $5,651
2015 $36,702 $6,112
2014 $43,148 $6,857
2013 $42,669 $7,332
2012 $40,864 $8,077
2011 $43,930 $8,646
2010 $40,695 $7,973
2009 $41,728 $6,375
2008 $45,465 $6,185
2007 $41,486 $6,592
2006 $36,432 $6,077
2005 $34,696 $5,837
2004 $33,645 $5,221
2003 $29,480 $4,062
2002 $24,145 $2,688
2001 $22,332 $2,847
2000 $22,341 $3,218
1999 $24,576 $3,242
1998 $24,869 $3,310
1997 $24,169 $3,700
1996 $26,758 $3,618
1995 $26,792 $3,856
1994 $23,360 $3,489
1993 $22,239 $3,400
1992 $23,615 $3,462
1991 $21,501 $3,243
1990 $21,586 $3,093
1989 $17,547 $2,727
1988 $17,550 $2,702
1987 $16,176 $2,586
1986 $13,430 $2,027
1985 $9,657 $1,839
1984 $9,312 $2,504
1983 $9,862 $2,938
1982 $10,360 $2,717
1981 $10,956 $3,050
1980 $12,565 $3,029
1979 $11,063 $2,202
1978 $9,167 $1,852
1977 $7,459 $1,671
1976 $6,792 $1,559
1975 $6,617 $1,670
1974 $5,261 $1,656
1973 $4,907 $1,369
1972 $3,809 $1,038
1971 $3,137 $1,020
1970 $2,833 $952
1969 $2,729 $891
1968 $2,518 $817
1967 $2,328 $779
1966 $2,173 $722
1965 $2,024 $685
1964 $1,891 $646
1963 $1,723 $605
1962 $1,554 $563
1961 $1,402 $546
1960 $1,307 $532

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

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

France vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
France

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
France South Africa
2026 83.7 66.7
2025 83.6 66.5
2024 83.5 66.3
2023 83.3 66.1
2022 82.5 65.5
2021 82.3 62
2020 82.2 65.2
2019 82.7 66.1
2018 82.6 65.7
2017 82.4 65.4
2016 82.4 64.7
2015 82.1 64.1
2014 82.4 63.2
2013 82 62.4
2012 81.7 61.7
2011 81.8 60.6
2010 81.4 58.9
2009 81.2 57.4
2008 81 56
2007 81 54.9
2006 80.7 54.2
2005 80.3 53.9
2004 80.3 54
2003 79.4 54.2
2002 79.4 55.6
2001 79.2 57.2
2000 79 58.4
1999 78.7 59.2
1998 78.6 59.9
1997 78.4 60.5
1996 78.1 61.1
1995 77.9 61.6
1994 77.8 62.1
1993 77.3 62.6
1992 77.3 62.8
1991 77 63
1990 76.8 62.9
1989 76.5 63
1988 76.4 62.9
1987 76.1 62.7
1986 75.6 62.4
1985 75.3 62.2
1984 75.2 61.8
1983 74.7 61.4
1982 74.8 60.9
1981 74.4 60.4
1980 74.2 60
1979 74.1 59.5
1978 73.8 59
1977 73.7 58.5
1976 73.1 58
1975 72.9 57.6
1974 72.8 57.1
1973 72.5 56.7
1972 72.3 56.4
1971 72.1 56
1970 72.1 55.7
1969 71.2 55.4
1968 71.5 55.2
1967 71.5 55
1966 71.5 54.7
1965 71.1 54.4
1964 71.3 54.2
1963 70.3 53.9
1962 70.5 53.6
1961 71 53.1
1960 70.4 52.6
1959 70.2 51.9
1958 70.1 51.1
1957 68.9 50.2
1956 68.5 49.2
1955 68.4 48.2
1954 68.2 47.1
1953 67.3 46.1
1952 67.4 45
1951 66.1 44.1
1950 66.4 43.1

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

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

France and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
France

South Africa
1x
Year Population
France South Africa
2024 68,551,653 64,007,187
2023 68,372,286 63,212,384
2022 68,184,457 62,378,410
2021 67,842,811 61,502,603
2020 67,601,110 60,562,381
2019 67,382,061 59,587,885
2018 67,158,348 58,613,001
2017 66,918,020 57,635,162
2016 66,724,104 57,259,551
2015 66,548,272 56,723,537
2014 66,312,067 55,594,838
2013 65,997,932 54,678,791
2012 65,657,659 53,782,567
2011 65,340,830 52,995,205
2010 65,026,211 52,344,051
2009 64,706,436 51,728,516
2008 64,375,116 51,114,599
2007 64,016,890 50,528,584
2006 63,622,342 49,998,277
2005 63,180,854 49,490,033
2004 62,707,588 48,991,421
2003 62,249,855 48,500,348
2002 61,812,142 48,019,415
2001 61,364,377 47,566,800
2000 60,918,661 47,159,719
1999 60,501,986 46,730,335
1998 60,190,684 46,223,880
1997 59,968,066 45,666,838
1996 59,754,504 45,123,018
1995 59,541,294 44,541,554
1994 59,324,863 44,004,139
1993 59,103,094 43,297,156
1992 58,846,584 42,443,509
1991 58,554,242 41,687,898
1990 58,261,012 40,746,268
1989 57,943,062 39,628,575
1988 57,598,186 38,480,649
1987 57,266,167 37,326,190
1986 56,956,002 36,180,515
1985 56,665,619 35,042,093
1984 56,383,085 33,892,788
1983 56,108,330 32,739,304
1982 55,806,789 31,615,339
1981 55,603,353 30,541,044
1980 55,274,184 29,518,857
1979 54,979,851 28,634,162
1978 54,734,030 27,869,507
1977 54,486,467 27,118,952
1976 54,232,383 26,395,450
1975 54,002,853 25,690,940
1974 53,746,571 24,989,108
1973 53,392,161 24,294,263
1972 52,962,356 23,609,456
1971 52,499,553 22,942,143
1970 52,007,169 22,279,984
1969 51,536,014 21,614,676
1968 51,112,980 20,957,287
1967 50,722,791 20,314,066
1966 50,311,637 19,690,087
1965 49,877,725 19,089,380
1964 49,401,492 18,511,361
1963 48,877,567 17,954,564
1962 48,389,516 17,418,522
1961 47,905,982 16,908,035
1960 47,412,964 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in France and South Africa

Fertility rate
France

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
France South Africa
2023 1.66 2.22
2022 1.79 2.23
2021 1.84 2.25
2020 1.83 2.26
2019 1.86 2.26
2018 1.87 2.27
2017 1.89 2.28
2016 1.92 2.26
2015 1.96 2.36
2014 2 2.42
2013 1.99 2.43
2012 2.01 2.45
2011 2.01 2.44
2010 2.03 2.44
2009 2 2.5
2008 2.01 2.68
2007 1.98 2.55
2006 2 2.55
2005 1.94 2.51
2004 1.92 2.44
2003 1.89 2.36
2002 1.88 2.32
2001 1.9 2.37
2000 1.89 2.41
1999 1.81 2.56
1998 1.78 2.63
1997 1.77 2.73
1996 1.75 2.99
1995 1.74 3.17
1994 1.73 3.26
1993 1.73 3.37
1992 1.74 3.48
1991 1.75 3.62
1990 1.77 3.72
1989 1.79 3.98
1988 1.81 4.18
1987 1.83 4.35
1986 1.85 4.41
1985 1.86 4.5
1984 1.86 4.57
1983 1.86 4.63
1982 1.86 4.7
1981 1.85 4.71
1980 1.85 4.78
1979 1.87 4.82
1978 1.89 4.85
1977 1.94 4.94
1976 2.01 5.07
1975 2.09 5.19
1974 2.18 5.3
1973 2.28 5.41
1972 2.38 5.49
1971 2.47 5.57
1970 2.55 5.63
1969 2.62 5.72
1968 2.69 5.78
1967 2.75 5.85
1966 2.8 5.91
1965 2.84 5.89
1964 2.87 5.96
1963 2.89 6.01
1962 2.89 6.05
1961 2.87 6.08
1960 2.85 6.11

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

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

France and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
France

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
France South Africa
2024 43 29.5
2023 42.8 29.2
2022 42.6 28.9
2021 42.4 28.6
2020 42.3 28.3
2019 42.1 27.9
2018 41.9 27.5
2017 41.6 27
2016 41.4 26.7
2015 41.2 26.4
2014 41 26
2013 40.8 25.7
2012 40.5 25.3
2011 40.3 25
2010 40 24.6
2009 39.8 24.3
2008 39.6 24
2007 39.4 23.8
2006 39.1 23.5
2005 38.9 23.3
2004 38.6 23.1
2003 38.4 22.8
2002 38.2 22.4
2001 37.9 22.2
2000 37.7 21.9
1999 37.4 21.6
1998 37.1 21.4
1997 36.8 21.2
1996 36.5 21.2
1995 36.2 21.5
1994 35.9 22
1993 35.6 21.9
1992 35.3 21.5
1991 35 21.5
1990 34.7 21.3
1989 34.5 21.1
1988 34.2 20.9
1987 34 20.7
1986 33.7 20.5
1985 33.5 20.4
1984 33.3 20.2
1983 33 20
1982 32.8 19.8
1981 32.6 19.6
1980 32.4 19.4
1979 32.3 19.3
1978 32.1 19.2
1977 31.9 19.1
1976 31.7 19
1975 31.6 18.9
1974 31.7 18.9
1973 31.8 18.8
1972 32 18.8
1971 32.2 18.8
1970 32.4 18.8
1969 32.5 18.8
1968 32.6 18.8
1967 32.7 18.8
1966 32.7 18.8
1965 32.7 18.8
1964 32.8 18.9
1963 32.8 18.9
1962 32.9 18.9
1961 32.8 19
1960 32.8 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

France South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$3.1T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
57.2%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.32%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.05%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
304,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.77%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
7.44%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
70.9%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
64.6
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
2,897,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.47%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
52
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
457
2018
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.37T
2018
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$283B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$38.8B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
117,109,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.8%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
99.2%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

France South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,136 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$19.4
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
274.5 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
4 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
46.5%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
16.2%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
46.7%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
47.1%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,415 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
22.8%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
11.6%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
64.3%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

France South Africa
% of world population
0.84%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+91,737
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
78.8%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.5:51.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.86 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
86.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
66
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
85
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.31
2024
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.1
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
57.3%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
88.7%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

France South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,327
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$492
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
83.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.28
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.1 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
7
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
4.3
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
10%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.5%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
79
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
34.6%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.3 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

France South Africa
% of world land
0.36%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
3,036 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
109,256 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
67,580 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
654,437 mi
2011
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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