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Guyana vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Guyana has a population of 831K (ranked 161/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Guyana's land area is 81,522 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 82nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Guyana ranks 120/197 ($24.7B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Guyana ranks 41/197 ($29,675), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Guyana South Africa
Population
842249
65683993
Population rank 162/197 24/197
GDP
$24.7B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 120/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$29,675
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 41/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$80,155
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$5.99B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$7,213
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 66/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,212
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 81,522 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
10.3 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.41
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
26.9 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
70.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Guyana and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Guyana and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Guyana South Africa
2024 $24,662,709,832 $401,144,998,374
2023 $16,918,503,597 $381,440,724,491
2022 $14,718,388,489 $407,596,043,068
2021 $8,041,362,110 $419,986,284,375
2020 $5,471,256,595 $337,974,655,408
2019 $5,173,760,192 $389,330,032,224
2018 $4,787,636,998 $405,260,723,893
2017 $4,748,174,334 $381,448,814,653
2016 $4,482,697,337 $323,585,509,674
2015 $4,279,840,194 $346,709,790,459
2014 $4,127,660,152 $381,198,869,776
2013 $4,167,800,929 $400,886,013,596
2012 $4,063,088,536 $434,400,545,086
2011 $3,691,384,318 $458,199,494,831
2010 $3,432,912,517 $417,363,822,802
2009 $3,165,663,153 $329,754,060,647
2008 $3,025,187,433 $316,131,258,616
2007 $2,730,971,595 $333,077,117,254
2006 $2,379,817,991 $303,858,675,364
2005 $824,880,550 $288,867,217,197
2004 $787,814,379 $255,806,908,595
2003 $743,063,950 $197,018,965,309
2002 $726,131,435 $129,087,556,612
2001 $712,167,450 $135,429,905,923
2000 $712,667,897 $151,752,757,215
1999 $694,754,988 $151,516,957,079
1998 $717,530,683 $152,982,984,557
1997 $749,138,010 $168,978,057,328
1996 $705,406,001 $163,234,925,381
1995 $621,626,786 $171,735,933,897
1994 $540,874,934 $153,512,712,382
1993 $454,101,382 $147,194,747,566
1992 $373,573,141 $146,956,150,987
1991 $348,533,095 $135,203,698,238
1990 $396,582,263 $126,048,140,142
1989 $379,779,390 $108,055,624,082
1988 $413,799,990 $103,976,831,871
1987 $354,591,847 $96,535,763,418
1986 $504,651,140 $73,354,771,399
1985 $453,488,372 $64,459,376,087
1984 $437,631,605 $84,870,163,366
1983 $489,333,333 $96,204,110,942
1982 $482,000,000 $85,904,057,409
1981 $570,357,107 $93,141,472,164
1980 $603,200,000 $89,411,864,402
1979 $530,440,000 $63,038,658,089
1978 $507,080,000 $51,607,412,902
1977 $449,880,000 $45,328,411,332
1976 $454,440,000 $41,150,460,288
1975 $494,791,667 $42,906,905,672
1974 $433,954,545 $41,389,186,095
1973 $307,047,619 $33,262,772,008
1972 $285,380,952 $24,515,919,217
1971 $282,050,000 $23,411,076,638
1970 $267,800,000 $21,218,391,513
1969 $249,300,000 $19,256,992,297
1968 $229,750,000 $17,124,793,150
1967 $250,176,471 $15,821,393,671
1966 $228,705,882 $14,211,394,315
1965 $213,235,294 $13,068,994,772
1964 $194,774,513 $11,955,995,218
1963 $175,757,894 $10,854,195,658
1962 $194,949,513 $9,813,996,074
1961 $185,849,535 $9,225,996,310
1960 $170,216,241 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Guyana and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Guyana South Africa
2024 $29,675 $6,267
2023 $20,474 $6,034
2022 $17,913 $6,534
2021 $9,861 $6,829
2020 $6,776 $5,581
2019 $6,406 $6,534
2018 $6,048 $6,914
2017 $6,179 $6,618
2016 $5,871 $5,651
2015 $5,640 $6,112
2014 $5,473 $6,857
2013 $5,557 $7,332
2012 $5,444 $8,077
2011 $4,947 $8,646
2010 $4,582 $7,973
2009 $4,209 $6,375
2008 $4,009 $6,185
2007 $3,608 $6,592
2006 $3,136 $6,077
2005 $1,084 $5,837
2004 $1,033 $5,221
2003 $974 $4,062
2002 $951 $2,688
2001 $932 $2,847
2000 $932 $3,218
1999 $909 $3,242
1998 $940 $3,310
1997 $983 $3,700
1996 $928 $3,618
1995 $820 $3,856
1994 $716 $3,489
1993 $603 $3,400
1992 $498 $3,462
1991 $466 $3,243
1990 $529 $3,093
1989 $503 $2,727
1988 $545 $2,702
1987 $464 $2,586
1986 $657 $2,027
1985 $588 $1,839
1984 $565 $2,504
1983 $631 $2,938
1982 $621 $2,717
1981 $735 $3,050
1980 $779 $3,029
1979 $689 $2,202
1978 $663 $1,852
1977 $593 $1,671
1976 $604 $1,559
1975 $664 $1,670
1974 $588 $1,656
1973 $421 $1,369
1972 $395 $1,038
1971 $396 $1,020
1970 $381 $952
1969 $361 $891
1968 $340 $817
1967 $378 $779
1966 $353 $722
1965 $336 $685
1964 $313 $646
1963 $288.8 $605
1962 $327 $563
1961 $319 $546
1960 $299.1 $532

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

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

Guyana vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Guyana South Africa
2026 70.6 66.7
2025 70.4 66.5
2024 70.3 66.3
2023 70.2 66.1
2022 69.9 65.5
2021 64.3 62
2020 67.8 65.2
2019 69.1 66.1
2018 68.8 65.7
2017 68.5 65.4
2016 68.1 64.7
2015 67.7 64.1
2014 67.3 63.2
2013 66.7 62.4
2012 66.4 61.7
2011 66.5 60.6
2010 66.2 58.9
2009 66 57.4
2008 65.7 56
2007 65.5 54.9
2006 64.8 54.2
2005 64.4 53.9
2004 64.2 54
2003 64.1 54.2
2002 64.2 55.6
2001 64.4 57.2
2000 64.1 58.4
1999 63.8 59.2
1998 63.4 59.9
1997 62.9 60.5
1996 62.7 61.1
1995 62.7 61.6
1994 63 62.1
1993 63 62.6
1992 62.8 62.8
1991 62.5 63
1990 62.3 62.9
1989 62.1 63
1988 61.8 62.9
1987 61.7 62.7
1986 61.5 62.4
1985 61.4 62.2
1984 61.3 61.8
1983 61.2 61.4
1982 61 60.9
1981 60.9 60.4
1980 60.8 60
1979 60.7 59.5
1978 60.6 59
1977 60.6 58.5
1976 60.4 58
1975 60.4 57.6
1974 60.3 57.1
1973 60.2 56.7
1972 60.1 56.4
1971 60.1 56
1970 60 55.7
1969 59.8 55.4
1968 59.7 55.2
1967 59.5 55
1966 59.3 54.7
1965 59.1 54.4
1964 59 54.2
1963 58.6 53.9
1962 58.3 53.6
1961 57.9 53.1
1960 57.5 52.6
1959 57 51.9
1958 56.4 51.1
1957 56.1 50.2
1956 55.2 49.2
1955 54.1 48.2
1954 53.3 47.1
1953 52.4 46.1
1952 51.3 45
1951 50.2 44.1
1950 49.2 43.1

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

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

Guyana and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Guyana South Africa
2024 831,087 64,007,187
2023 826,353 63,212,384
2022 821,637 62,378,410
2021 815,482 61,502,603
2020 807,481 60,562,381
2019 807,665 59,587,885
2018 791,556 58,613,001
2017 768,479 57,635,162
2016 763,548 57,259,551
2015 758,781 56,723,537
2014 754,229 55,594,838
2013 750,021 54,678,791
2012 746,288 53,782,567
2011 746,153 52,995,205
2010 749,256 52,344,051
2009 752,094 51,728,516
2008 754,606 51,114,599
2007 756,861 50,528,584
2006 758,966 49,998,277
2005 760,914 49,490,033
2004 762,418 48,991,421
2003 763,101 48,500,348
2002 763,652 48,019,415
2001 764,477 47,566,800
2000 764,832 47,159,719
1999 764,483 46,730,335
1998 763,586 46,223,880
1997 762,245 45,666,838
1996 760,526 45,123,018
1995 758,388 44,541,554
1994 755,822 44,004,139
1993 752,965 43,297,156
1992 749,911 42,443,509
1991 747,861 41,687,898
1990 749,894 40,746,268
1989 754,865 39,628,575
1988 759,663 38,480,649
1987 764,120 37,326,190
1986 768,098 36,180,515
1985 771,477 35,042,093
1984 774,111 33,892,788
1983 775,891 32,739,304
1982 776,712 31,615,339
1981 776,453 30,541,044
1980 774,367 29,518,857
1979 770,062 28,634,162
1978 764,586 27,869,507
1977 758,654 27,118,952
1976 752,253 26,395,450
1975 745,393 25,690,940
1974 738,057 24,989,108
1973 730,138 24,294,263
1972 721,617 23,609,456
1971 712,662 22,942,143
1970 702,705 22,279,984
1969 690,223 21,614,676
1968 676,160 20,957,287
1967 662,311 20,314,066
1966 648,646 19,690,087
1965 635,128 19,089,380
1964 621,764 18,511,361
1963 608,537 17,954,564
1962 595,461 17,418,522
1961 582,568 16,908,035
1960 569,143 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Guyana and South Africa

Fertility rate
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Guyana South Africa
2023 2.41 2.22
2022 2.44 2.23
2021 2.46 2.25
2020 2.49 2.26
2019 2.52 2.26
2018 2.55 2.27
2017 2.59 2.28
2016 2.63 2.26
2015 2.67 2.36
2014 2.7 2.42
2013 2.71 2.43
2012 2.7 2.45
2011 2.69 2.44
2010 2.68 2.44
2009 2.69 2.5
2008 2.7 2.68
2007 2.68 2.55
2006 2.66 2.55
2005 2.65 2.51
2004 2.68 2.44
2003 2.75 2.36
2002 2.84 2.32
2001 2.96 2.37
2000 3.06 2.41
1999 3.13 2.56
1998 3.18 2.63
1997 3.22 2.73
1996 3.23 2.99
1995 3.24 3.17
1994 3.23 3.26
1993 3.2 3.37
1992 3.19 3.48
1991 3.18 3.62
1990 3.18 3.72
1989 3.19 3.98
1988 3.23 4.18
1987 3.31 4.35
1986 3.38 4.41
1985 3.47 4.5
1984 3.54 4.57
1983 3.64 4.63
1982 3.68 4.7
1981 3.72 4.71
1980 3.77 4.78
1979 3.86 4.82
1978 3.97 4.85
1977 4.12 4.94
1976 4.28 5.07
1975 4.45 5.19
1974 4.64 5.3
1973 4.87 5.41
1972 5.08 5.49
1971 5.26 5.57
1970 5.41 5.63
1969 5.58 5.72
1968 5.75 5.78
1967 5.89 5.85
1966 6.02 5.91
1965 6.14 5.89
1964 6.23 5.96
1963 6.31 6.01
1962 6.33 6.05
1961 6.34 6.08
1960 6.33 6.11

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

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

Guyana and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Guyana

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Guyana South Africa
2024 26.9 29.5
2023 26.7 29.2
2022 26.4 28.9
2021 26.1 28.6
2020 25.9 28.3
2019 25.7 27.9
2018 25.4 27.5
2017 25 27
2016 24.9 26.7
2015 24.7 26.4
2014 24.6 26
2013 24.6 25.7
2012 24.5 25.3
2011 24.4 25
2010 24.2 24.6
2009 24 24.3
2008 23.8 24
2007 23.6 23.8
2006 23.4 23.5
2005 23.2 23.3
2004 22.9 23.1
2003 22.7 22.8
2002 22.5 22.4
2001 22.4 22.2
2000 22.2 21.9
1999 22.1 21.6
1998 22 21.4
1997 21.9 21.2
1996 21.8 21.2
1995 21.7 21.5
1994 21.5 22
1993 21.4 21.9
1992 21.3 21.5
1991 21.1 21.5
1990 20.9 21.3
1989 20.7 21.1
1988 20.5 20.9
1987 20.2 20.7
1986 19.9 20.5
1985 19.6 20.4
1984 19.3 20.2
1983 19 20
1982 18.7 19.8
1981 18.4 19.6
1980 18.2 19.4
1979 18 19.3
1978 17.8 19.2
1977 17.6 19.1
1976 17.4 19
1975 17.2 18.9
1974 17 18.9
1973 16.8 18.8
1972 16.7 18.8
1971 16.6 18.8
1970 16.5 18.8
1969 16.4 18.8
1968 16.2 18.8
1967 16.2 18.8
1966 16.1 18.8
1965 16.1 18.8
1964 16.2 18.9
1963 16.3 18.9
1962 16.4 18.9
1961 16.6 19
1960 16.7 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Guyana South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.45%
2018
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.87%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
3,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.31%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
13.2%
2019
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
14.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
76%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.7
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.4%
1998
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
1998
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$600M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
86,400
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.21%
2003
2.89%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.1%
2024

Energy

Guyana South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
661 kg
2007
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$12.3
2007
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.79 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
4.56 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
12.1%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
7.11%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.0008%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
98.9%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Guyana South Africa
% of world population
0.01%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,092
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
26.5%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.65 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.24 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.8
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
40
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
27
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
16.2
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
96
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
90%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
90.5%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
81.7%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Guyana South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$505
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$133
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
70.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
1.24%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.39
2020
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.8 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
75
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
25.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
29%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
16.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
45
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
11.1%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
5.04 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Guyana South Africa
% of world land
0.14%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
98,090 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,780 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
70,995 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
2,482 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) (2000–2025, 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)

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