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Germany vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a population of 83.5M (ranked 19/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Germany's land area is 134,916 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 63rd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Germany ranks 3/197 ($4.69T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Germany ranks 19/197 ($56,104), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Germany South Africa
Population
82575542
65683993
Population rank 19/197 24/197
GDP
$4.69T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 3/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$56,104
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 19/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,552
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$2.97T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.5%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$35,606
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 21/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$41,775
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 134,916 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
612 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.39
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
46.3 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.9 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Germany and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Germany and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Germany South Africa
2024 $4,685,592,577,805 $401,144,998,374
2023 $4,562,207,532,490 $381,440,724,491
2022 $4,201,021,706,479 $407,596,043,068
2021 $4,355,251,953,411 $419,986,284,375
2020 $3,941,398,957,074 $337,974,655,408
2019 $3,959,894,794,039 $389,330,032,224
2018 $4,055,433,215,302 $405,260,723,893
2017 $3,765,351,626,106 $381,448,814,653
2016 $3,536,787,895,179 $323,585,509,674
2015 $3,425,099,578,746 $346,709,790,459
2014 $3,964,870,735,761 $381,198,869,776
2013 $3,807,023,797,051 $400,886,013,596
2012 $3,596,483,233,406 $434,400,545,086
2011 $3,823,575,803,794 $458,199,494,831
2010 $3,467,093,769,667 $417,363,822,802
2009 $3,478,545,516,684 $329,754,060,647
2008 $3,808,197,720,125 $316,131,258,616
2007 $3,484,056,680,855 $333,077,117,254
2006 $3,046,308,753,671 $303,858,675,364
2005 $2,893,393,187,362 $288,867,217,197
2004 $2,852,317,768,062 $255,806,908,595
2003 $2,534,715,518,349 $197,018,965,309
2002 $2,102,350,798,306 $129,087,556,612
2001 $1,966,381,496,642 $135,429,905,923
2000 $1,966,980,701,145 $151,752,757,215
1999 $2,213,873,468,587 $151,516,957,079
1998 $2,247,760,364,566 $152,982,984,557
1997 $2,218,790,886,533 $168,978,057,328
1996 $2,506,576,553,158 $163,234,925,381
1995 $2,593,053,091,306 $171,735,933,897
1994 $2,215,282,632,277 $153,512,712,382
1993 $2,078,954,217,438 $147,194,747,566
1992 $2,141,377,582,968 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,875,792,575,133 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,778,162,195,860 $126,048,140,142
1989 $1,404,092,925,205 $108,055,624,082
1988 $1,406,367,016,372 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,302,932,318,825 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,050,092,624,516 $73,354,771,399
1985 $735,218,723,093 $64,459,376,087
1984 $727,767,760,979 $84,870,163,366
1983 $773,507,930,295 $96,204,110,942
1982 $779,421,633,755 $85,904,057,409
1981 $803,404,797,058 $93,141,472,164
1980 $953,772,499,462 $89,411,864,402
1979 $884,574,218,333 $63,038,658,089
1978 $743,182,891,918 $51,607,412,902
1977 $602,698,323,086 $45,328,411,332
1976 $521,658,712,133 $41,150,460,288
1975 $492,434,094,920 $42,906,905,672
1974 $446,934,971,657 $41,389,186,095
1973 $399,833,571,167 $33,262,772,008
1972 $300,899,944,795 $24,515,919,217
1971 $250,900,942,397 $23,411,076,638
1970 $216,629,229,947 $21,218,391,513
1969 $177,733,486,326 $19,256,992,297
1968 $156,527,292,653 $17,124,793,150
1967 $145,100,667,773 $15,821,393,671
1966 $143,304,275,684 $14,211,394,315
1965 $134,774,688,191 $13,068,994,772
1964 $123,330,404,665 $11,955,995,218
1963 $112,232,503,744 $10,854,195,658
1962 $105,895,435,234 $9,813,996,074
1961 $96,558,204,043 $9,225,996,310
1960 $84,619,845,881 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Germany and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Germany South Africa
2024 $56,104 $6,267
2023 $54,777 $6,034
2022 $50,507 $6,534
2021 $52,349 $6,829
2020 $47,395 $5,581
2019 $47,656 $6,534
2018 $48,916 $6,914
2017 $45,554 $6,618
2016 $42,949 $5,651
2015 $41,930 $6,112
2014 $48,960 $6,857
2013 $47,207 $7,332
2012 $44,718 $8,077
2011 $47,631 $8,646
2010 $42,397 $7,973
2009 $42,472 $6,375
2008 $46,379 $6,185
2007 $42,351 $6,592
2006 $36,980 $6,077
2005 $35,084 $5,837
2004 $34,567 $5,221
2003 $30,711 $4,062
2002 $25,487 $2,688
2001 $23,878 $2,847
2000 $23,926 $3,218
1999 $26,965 $3,242
1998 $27,396 $3,310
1997 $27,047 $3,700
1996 $30,600 $3,618
1995 $31,747 $3,856
1994 $27,202 $3,489
1993 $25,617 $3,400
1992 $26,560 $3,462
1991 $23,443 $3,243
1990 $22,386 $3,093
1989 $17,829 $2,727
1988 $17,997 $2,702
1987 $16,739 $2,586
1986 $13,511 $2,027
1985 $9,464 $1,839
1984 $9,347 $2,504
1983 $9,900 $2,938
1982 $9,950 $2,717
1981 $10,246 $3,050
1980 $12,183 $3,029
1979 $11,322 $2,202
1978 $9,517 $1,852
1977 $7,711 $1,671
1976 $6,659 $1,559
1975 $6,259 $1,670
1974 $5,660 $1,656
1973 $5,065 $1,369
1972 $3,824 $1,038
1971 $3,204 $1,020
1970 $2,771 $952
1969 $2,281 $891
1968 $2,025 $817
1967 $1,886 $779
1966 $1,871 $722
1965 $1,774 $685
1964 $1,637 $646
1963 $1,502 $605
1962 $1,431 $563
1961 $1,316 $546
1960 $1,162 $532

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

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

Germany vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Germany South Africa
2026 81.9 66.7
2025 81.7 66.5
2024 81.5 66.3
2023 81.4 66.1
2022 80.6 65.5
2021 81.1 62
2020 81 65.2
2019 81.2 66.1
2018 80.9 65.7
2017 80.9 65.4
2016 80.8 64.7
2015 80.6 64.1
2014 80.9 63.2
2013 80.5 62.4
2012 80.5 61.7
2011 80.4 60.6
2010 80.1 58.9
2009 79.9 57.4
2008 79.8 56
2007 79.7 54.9
2006 79.6 54.2
2005 79.3 53.9
2004 79.1 54
2003 78.5 54.2
2002 78.5 55.6
2001 78.4 57.2
2000 78.1 58.4
1999 77.8 59.2
1998 77.6 59.9
1997 77.2 60.5
1996 76.8 61.1
1995 76.6 61.6
1994 76.4 62.1
1993 76.1 62.6
1992 76 62.8
1991 75.6 63
1990 75.3 62.9
1989 75.5 63
1988 75.3 62.9
1987 75.1 62.7
1986 74.7 62.4
1985 74.5 62.2
1984 74.4 61.8
1983 73.9 61.4
1982 73.6 60.9
1981 73.3 60.4
1980 73.1 60
1979 72.9 59.5
1978 72.6 59
1977 72.6 58.5
1976 72 58
1975 71.5 57.6
1974 71.7 57.1
1973 71.4 56.7
1972 71.1 56.4
1971 70.9 56
1970 70.7 55.7
1969 70.5 55.4
1968 70.6 55.2
1967 71 55
1966 70.7 54.7
1965 70.6 54.4
1964 70.6 54.2
1963 70.1 53.9
1962 70 53.6
1961 69.8 53.1
1960 69.3 52.6
1959 69.3 51.9
1958 69.2 51.1
1957 68.5 50.2
1956 68.6 49.2
1955 68.3 48.2
1954 68.1 47.1
1953 67.8 46.1
1952 67.5 45
1951 67.1 44.1
1950 66.8 43.1

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

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

Germany and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Germany South Africa
2024 83,516,593 64,007,187
2023 83,287,273 63,212,384
2022 83,177,813 62,378,410
2021 83,196,078 61,502,603
2020 83,160,871 60,562,381
2019 83,092,962 59,587,885
2018 82,905,782 58,613,001
2017 82,657,002 57,635,162
2016 82,348,669 57,259,551
2015 81,686,611 56,723,537
2014 80,982,500 55,594,838
2013 80,645,605 54,678,791
2012 80,425,823 53,782,567
2011 80,274,983 52,995,205
2010 81,776,930 52,344,051
2009 81,902,307 51,728,516
2008 82,110,097 51,114,599
2007 82,266,372 50,528,584
2006 82,376,451 49,998,277
2005 82,469,422 49,490,033
2004 82,516,260 48,991,421
2003 82,534,176 48,500,348
2002 82,488,495 48,019,415
2001 82,349,925 47,566,800
2000 82,211,508 47,159,719
1999 82,100,243 46,730,335
1998 82,047,195 46,223,880
1997 82,034,771 45,666,838
1996 81,914,831 45,123,018
1995 81,678,051 44,541,554
1994 81,438,348 44,004,139
1993 81,156,363 43,297,156
1992 80,624,598 42,443,509
1991 80,013,896 41,687,898
1990 79,433,029 40,746,268
1989 78,751,283 39,628,575
1988 78,144,619 38,480,649
1987 77,839,920 37,326,190
1986 77,720,436 36,180,515
1985 77,684,873 35,042,093
1984 77,858,685 33,892,788
1983 78,128,282 32,739,304
1982 78,333,366 31,615,339
1981 78,407,907 30,541,044
1980 78,288,576 29,518,857
1979 78,126,350 28,634,162
1978 78,091,820 27,869,507
1977 78,159,814 27,118,952
1976 78,336,950 26,395,450
1975 78,673,554 25,690,940
1974 78,967,433 24,989,108
1973 78,936,666 24,294,263
1972 78,688,452 23,609,456
1971 78,312,842 22,942,143
1970 78,169,289 22,279,984
1969 77,909,682 21,614,676
1968 77,294,314 20,957,287
1967 76,951,336 20,314,066
1966 76,600,311 19,690,087
1965 75,963,695 19,089,380
1964 75,318,337 18,511,361
1963 74,714,353 17,954,564
1962 74,025,784 17,418,522
1961 73,377,632 16,908,035
1960 72,814,900 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Germany and South Africa

Fertility rate
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Germany South Africa
2023 1.39 2.22
2022 1.46 2.23
2021 1.58 2.25
2020 1.53 2.26
2019 1.54 2.26
2018 1.57 2.27
2017 1.57 2.28
2016 1.6 2.26
2015 1.5 2.36
2014 1.47 2.42
2013 1.42 2.43
2012 1.41 2.45
2011 1.39 2.44
2010 1.39 2.44
2009 1.36 2.5
2008 1.38 2.68
2007 1.37 2.55
2006 1.33 2.55
2005 1.34 2.51
2004 1.36 2.44
2003 1.34 2.36
2002 1.34 2.32
2001 1.35 2.37
2000 1.38 2.41
1999 1.36 2.56
1998 1.36 2.63
1997 1.35 2.73
1996 1.3 2.99
1995 1.25 3.17
1994 1.24 3.26
1993 1.28 3.37
1992 1.29 3.48
1991 1.33 3.62
1990 1.45 3.72
1989 1.42 3.98
1988 1.46 4.18
1987 1.43 4.35
1986 1.43 4.41
1985 1.37 4.5
1984 1.29 4.57
1983 1.33 4.63
1982 1.41 4.7
1981 1.43 4.71
1980 1.44 4.78
1979 1.38 4.82
1978 1.38 4.85
1977 1.4 4.94
1976 1.45 5.07
1975 1.45 5.19
1974 1.51 5.3
1973 1.54 5.41
1972 1.71 5.49
1971 1.92 5.57
1970 2.03 5.63
1969 2.21 5.72
1968 2.38 5.78
1967 2.48 5.85
1966 2.53 5.91
1965 2.5 5.89
1964 2.54 5.96
1963 2.51 6.01
1962 2.44 6.05
1961 2.45 6.08
1960 2.37 6.11

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

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

Germany and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Germany

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Germany South Africa
2024 46.3 29.5
2023 46.2 29.2
2022 46 28.9
2021 45.9 28.6
2020 45.8 28.3
2019 45.8 27.9
2018 45.8 27.5
2017 45.8 27
2016 45.7 26.7
2015 45.7 26.4
2014 45.7 26
2013 45.5 25.7
2012 45.1 25.3
2011 44.6 25
2010 44.2 24.6
2009 43.9 24.3
2008 43.5 24
2007 43.1 23.8
2006 42.5 23.5
2005 42 23.3
2004 41.6 23.1
2003 41.2 22.8
2002 40.8 22.4
2001 40.4 22.2
2000 40 21.9
1999 39.7 21.6
1998 39.3 21.4
1997 38.9 21.2
1996 38.6 21.2
1995 38.4 21.5
1994 38.1 22
1993 37.9 21.9
1992 37.8 21.5
1991 37.7 21.5
1990 37.6 21.3
1989 37.6 21.1
1988 37.6 20.9
1987 37.4 20.7
1986 37.2 20.5
1985 37.1 20.4
1984 37 20.2
1983 36.7 20
1982 36.6 19.8
1981 36.5 19.6
1980 36.5 19.4
1979 36.4 19.3
1978 36.3 19.2
1977 36.1 19.1
1976 35.8 19
1975 35.5 18.9
1974 35 18.9
1973 34.7 18.8
1972 34.6 18.8
1971 34.4 18.8
1970 34.3 18.8
1969 34.1 18.8
1968 34.2 18.8
1967 34.3 18.8
1966 34.4 18.8
1965 34.4 18.8
1964 34.5 18.9
1963 34.6 18.9
1962 34.7 18.9
1961 34.7 19
1960 34.7 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Germany South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$4.6T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49.4%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.24%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.89%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
183,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.66%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.37%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
71.7
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25%
2020
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2020
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
2,675,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
3.93%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
171
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
435
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.04T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$378B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$21.2B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
12,449,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.47%
2019
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Germany South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,928 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$24.5
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
580 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.94 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
77.6%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
17.6%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.15%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
70.5%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
5,947 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
39.8%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
4.95%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
1.41%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Germany South Africa
% of world population
1.03%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-334,072
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
82%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.92 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.45 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.5
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
94
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.91
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.8
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
56.3%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
93.5%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Germany South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,849
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$733
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
81.9 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.53
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.8 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
21%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
76
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
21.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
11.8 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Germany South Africa
% of world land
0.23%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,615 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
64,039 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
44,089 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
515,738 mi
2022
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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