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India vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population of 1.45B (ranked 1/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). India's land area is 1,147,955 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 7th vs. 24th).

By GDP, India ranks 5/197 ($3.91T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, India ranks 143/197 ($2,695), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

India South Africa
Population
1480351380
65683993
Population rank 1/197 24/197
GDP
$3.91T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 5/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$2,695
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 143/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,160
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$3.19T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
81.6%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,200
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 118/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,596
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 1,147,955 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
1,287 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.98
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

India and South Africa: Comparison Charts

India and South Africa economies compared

GDP
India

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
India South Africa
2024 $3,909,891,533,858 $401,144,998,374
2023 $3,638,489,096,034 $381,440,724,491
2022 $3,346,107,287,731 $407,596,043,068
2021 $3,167,270,623,260 $419,986,284,375
2020 $2,674,851,578,587 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,835,606,256,558 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,702,929,641,649 $405,260,723,893
2017 $2,651,474,262,755 $381,448,814,653
2016 $2,294,796,885,663 $323,585,509,674
2015 $2,103,588,360,045 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,039,126,479,155 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,856,721,507,622 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,827,637,590,410 $434,400,545,086
2011 $1,823,051,829,895 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,675,615,519,485 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,341,888,016,995 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,198,895,139,006 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,216,736,438,835 $333,077,117,254
2006 $940,259,888,788 $303,858,675,364
2005 $820,383,763,511 $288,867,217,197
2004 $709,152,728,831 $255,806,908,595
2003 $607,700,687,237 $197,018,965,309
2002 $514,939,140,319 $129,087,556,612
2001 $485,440,139,204 $135,429,905,923
2000 $468,395,521,654 $151,752,757,215
1999 $458,821,052,616 $151,516,957,079
1998 $421,351,317,225 $152,982,984,557
1997 $415,867,563,593 $168,978,057,328
1996 $392,896,866,205 $163,234,925,381
1995 $360,281,909,643 $171,735,933,897
1994 $327,274,843,459 $153,512,712,382
1993 $279,295,648,983 $147,194,747,566
1992 $288,208,070,278 $146,956,150,987
1991 $270,105,341,879 $135,203,698,238
1990 $320,979,026,420 $126,048,140,142
1989 $296,042,052,945 $108,055,624,082
1988 $296,589,670,896 $103,976,831,871
1987 $279,033,584,092 $96,535,763,418
1986 $248,985,994,041 $73,354,771,399
1985 $232,511,554,840 $64,459,376,087
1984 $212,157,645,178 $84,870,163,366
1983 $218,262,146,413 $96,204,110,942
1982 $200,715,624,831 $85,904,057,409
1981 $193,491,368,446 $93,141,472,164
1980 $186,328,579,302 $89,411,864,402
1979 $152,995,442,498 $63,038,658,089
1978 $137,302,319,829 $51,607,412,902
1977 $121,486,641,441 $45,328,411,332
1976 $102,716,451,980 $41,150,460,288
1975 $98,473,832,017 $42,906,905,672
1974 $99,526,597,934 $41,389,186,095
1973 $85,517,673,173 $33,262,772,008
1972 $71,464,700,667 $24,515,919,217
1971 $67,351,404,352 $23,411,076,638
1970 $62,422,483,055 $21,218,391,513
1969 $58,447,995,017 $19,256,992,297
1968 $53,085,455,871 $17,124,793,150
1967 $50,134,942,204 $15,821,393,671
1966 $45,581,230,504 $14,211,394,315
1965 $59,556,105,229 $13,068,994,772
1964 $56,480,289,941 $11,955,995,218
1963 $48,421,923,459 $10,854,195,658
1962 $42,161,481,858 $9,813,996,074
1961 $39,232,435,784 $9,225,996,310
1960 $37,029,883,876 $8,748,596,501

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

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

India and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
India

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
India South Africa
2024 $2,695 $6,267
2023 $2,530 $6,034
2022 $2,347 $6,534
2021 $2,240 $6,829
2020 $1,907 $5,581
2019 $2,041 $6,534
2018 $1,966 $6,914
2017 $1,950 $6,618
2016 $1,708 $5,651
2015 $1,584 $6,112
2014 $1,554 $6,857
2013 $1,433 $7,332
2012 $1,429 $8,077
2011 $1,445 $8,646
2010 $1,348 $7,973
2009 $1,095 $6,375
2008 $993 $6,185
2007 $1,022 $6,592
2006 $802 $6,077
2005 $710 $5,837
2004 $624 $5,221
2003 $544 $4,062
2002 $469 $2,688
2001 $450 $2,847
2000 $443 $3,218
1999 $442 $3,242
1998 $414 $3,310
1997 $416 $3,700
1996 $401 $3,618
1995 $375 $3,856
1994 $348 $3,489
1993 $303 $3,400
1992 $319 $3,462
1991 $306 $3,243
1990 $371 $3,093
1989 $350 $2,727
1988 $358 $2,702
1987 $345 $2,586
1986 $315 $2,027
1985 $301 $1,839
1984 $281 $2,504
1983 $296 $2,938
1982 $278.7 $2,717
1981 $275 $3,050
1980 $271.1 $3,029
1979 $228 $2,202
1978 $209.4 $1,852
1977 $189.6 $1,671
1976 $164.1 $1,559
1975 $161.1 $1,670
1974 $166.7 $1,656
1973 $146.6 $1,369
1972 $125.3 $1,038
1971 $120.7 $1,020
1970 $114.4 $952
1969 $109.5 $891
1968 $101.6 $817
1967 $98 $779
1966 $91 $722
1965 $121.5 $685
1964 $117.9 $646
1963 $103.4 $605
1962 $92.2 $563
1961 $87.9 $546
1960 $84.9 $532

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

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

India vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
India

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
India South Africa
2026 72.7 66.7
2025 72.5 66.5
2024 72.2 66.3
2023 72 66.1
2022 71.7 65.5
2021 67.3 62
2020 70.2 65.2
2019 70.7 66.1
2018 70.4 65.7
2017 70.1 65.4
2016 69.7 64.7
2015 69.3 64.1
2014 68.9 63.2
2013 68.5 62.4
2012 68.1 61.7
2011 67.6 60.6
2010 67.2 58.9
2009 66.7 57.4
2008 66.2 56
2007 65.8 54.9
2006 65.4 54.2
2005 64.9 53.9
2004 64.5 54
2003 64.1 54.2
2002 63.6 55.6
2001 63.2 57.2
2000 62.7 58.4
1999 62.3 59.2
1998 61.9 59.9
1997 61.4 60.5
1996 61 61.1
1995 60.6 61.6
1994 60.2 62.1
1993 59.8 62.6
1992 59.4 62.8
1991 59 63
1990 58.6 62.9
1989 58.2 63
1988 57.7 62.9
1987 57.3 62.7
1986 56.8 62.4
1985 56.3 62.2
1984 55.8 61.8
1983 55.3 61.4
1982 54.7 60.9
1981 54.2 60.4
1980 53.6 60
1979 53 59.5
1978 52.4 59
1977 51.8 58.5
1976 51.3 58
1975 50.8 57.6
1974 50.3 57.1
1973 49.6 56.7
1972 49.2 56.4
1971 48.9 56
1970 48.6 55.7
1969 48.3 55.4
1968 47.9 55.2
1967 46.2 55
1966 45.9 54.7
1965 45.6 54.4
1964 46.7 54.2
1963 46.5 53.9
1962 46.1 53.6
1961 45.8 53.1
1960 45.6 52.6
1959 45.3 51.9
1958 44.8 51.1
1957 44.4 50.2
1956 44.1 49.2
1955 43.7 48.2
1954 43.2 47.1
1953 42.4 46.1
1952 42.1 45
1951 41.6 44.1
1950 41.2 43.1

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

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

India and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
India

South Africa
1x
Year Population
India South Africa
2024 1,450,935,791 64,007,187
2023 1,438,069,596 63,212,384
2022 1,425,423,212 62,378,410
2021 1,414,203,896 61,502,603
2020 1,402,617,695 60,562,381
2019 1,389,030,312 59,587,885
2018 1,374,659,064 58,613,001
2017 1,359,657,400 57,635,162
2016 1,343,944,296 57,259,551
2015 1,328,024,498 56,723,537
2014 1,312,277,191 55,594,838
2013 1,295,829,511 54,678,791
2012 1,278,674,502 53,782,567
2011 1,261,224,954 52,995,205
2010 1,243,481,564 52,344,051
2009 1,225,524,753 51,728,516
2008 1,207,930,964 51,114,599
2007 1,190,676,021 50,528,584
2006 1,172,878,890 49,998,277
2005 1,154,676,322 49,490,033
2004 1,135,991,513 48,991,421
2003 1,116,803,006 48,500,348
2002 1,097,600,380 48,019,415
2001 1,077,898,575 47,566,800
2000 1,057,922,733 47,159,719
1999 1,038,225,823 46,730,335
1998 1,018,665,080 46,223,880
1997 999,133,762 45,666,838
1996 979,678,458 45,123,018
1995 960,301,044 44,541,554
1994 941,163,767 44,004,139
1993 922,118,387 43,297,156
1992 902,957,070 42,443,509
1991 883,927,600 41,687,898
1990 864,972,221 40,746,268
1989 846,039,529 39,628,575
1988 827,342,990 38,480,649
1987 808,931,270 37,326,190
1986 790,689,978 36,180,515
1985 772,647,793 35,042,093
1984 754,875,449 33,892,788
1983 737,372,681 32,739,304
1982 720,313,473 31,615,339
1981 703,696,250 30,541,044
1980 687,354,025 29,518,857
1979 671,155,747 28,634,162
1978 655,728,229 27,869,507
1977 640,801,103 27,118,952
1976 625,861,883 26,395,450
1975 611,309,535 25,690,940
1974 597,041,391 24,989,108
1973 583,465,598 24,294,263
1972 570,482,142 23,609,456
1971 558,096,387 22,942,143
1970 545,864,268 22,279,984
1969 533,880,544 21,614,676
1968 522,716,889 20,957,287
1967 511,606,372 20,314,066
1966 500,740,247 19,690,087
1965 490,140,146 19,089,380
1964 479,229,598 18,511,361
1963 468,138,575 17,954,564
1962 457,283,090 17,418,522
1961 446,564,729 16,908,035
1960 435,990,338 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in India and South Africa

Fertility rate
India

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
India South Africa
2023 1.98 2.22
2022 1.99 2.23
2021 2.01 2.25
2020 2.05 2.26
2019 2.12 2.26
2018 2.18 2.27
2017 2.19 2.28
2016 2.28 2.26
2015 2.29 2.36
2014 2.29 2.42
2013 2.4 2.43
2012 2.47 2.45
2011 2.53 2.44
2010 2.6 2.44
2009 2.67 2.5
2008 2.71 2.68
2007 2.78 2.55
2006 2.87 2.55
2005 2.96 2.51
2004 3.05 2.44
2003 3.12 2.36
2002 3.22 2.32
2001 3.3 2.37
2000 3.35 2.41
1999 3.38 2.56
1998 3.45 2.63
1997 3.51 2.73
1996 3.58 2.99
1995 3.65 3.17
1994 3.72 3.26
1993 3.8 3.37
1992 3.88 3.48
1991 3.96 3.62
1990 4.05 3.72
1989 4.13 3.98
1988 4.22 4.18
1987 4.31 4.35
1986 4.4 4.41
1985 4.43 4.5
1984 4.52 4.57
1983 4.57 4.63
1982 4.62 4.7
1981 4.7 4.71
1980 4.78 4.78
1979 4.81 4.82
1978 4.89 4.85
1977 5.01 4.94
1976 5.13 5.07
1975 5.2 5.19
1974 5.33 5.3
1973 5.4 5.41
1972 5.48 5.49
1971 5.57 5.57
1970 5.62 5.63
1969 5.68 5.72
1968 5.76 5.78
1967 5.83 5.85
1966 5.88 5.91
1965 5.94 5.89
1964 5.98 5.96
1963 5.97 6.01
1962 5.95 6.05
1961 5.94 6.08
1960 5.92 6.11

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

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

India and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
India

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
India South Africa
2024 29.5 29.5
2023 29.1 29.2
2022 28.7 28.9
2021 28.4 28.6
2020 28.1 28.3
2019 27.7 27.9
2018 27.3 27.5
2017 27 27
2016 26.6 26.7
2015 26.3 26.4
2014 26 26
2013 25.6 25.7
2012 25.3 25.3
2011 25 25
2010 24.7 24.6
2009 24.4 24.3
2008 24.1 24
2007 23.8 23.8
2006 23.6 23.5
2005 23.3 23.3
2004 23.1 23.1
2003 22.9 22.8
2002 22.7 22.4
2001 22.5 22.2
2000 22.3 21.9
1999 22.1 21.6
1998 21.9 21.4
1997 21.7 21.2
1996 21.6 21.2
1995 21.4 21.5
1994 21.2 22
1993 21.1 21.9
1992 21 21.5
1991 20.8 21.5
1990 20.7 21.3
1989 20.6 21.1
1988 20.5 20.9
1987 20.4 20.7
1986 20.4 20.5
1985 20.3 20.4
1984 20.2 20.2
1983 20.1 20
1982 20 19.8
1981 20 19.6
1980 19.9 19.4
1979 19.8 19.3
1978 19.7 19.2
1977 19.6 19.1
1976 19.5 19
1975 19.4 18.9
1974 19.3 18.9
1973 19.3 18.8
1972 19.2 18.8
1971 19.2 18.8
1970 19.2 18.8
1969 19.2 18.8
1968 19.2 18.8
1967 19.3 18.8
1966 19.4 18.8
1965 19.5 18.8
1964 19.6 18.9
1963 19.8 18.9
1962 19.9 18.9
1961 20.1 19
1960 20.2 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

India South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$3.84T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.4%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.1%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.27%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
3,068,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.9%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.17%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
49.9%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.6%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
52.5
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.1%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
4.5%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
917,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.09%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
205
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,673
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$5.13T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$643B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$138B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
17,914,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.77%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
89%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

India South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
754 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$13.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3,154 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.17 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
74.9%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
4.12%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
36.1%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,182 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
19.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
7.24%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
2.41%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
99.5%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

India South Africa
% of world population
17.9%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-495,753
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
35.4%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.6:48.4
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.46 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.09 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
46.4
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
39
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
71
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.83
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.6
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
72
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
81.7%
2023
91.2%
2024
English speaking
15.8%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
70%
2025
75.7%
2023

Health

India South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$84.7
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$37.2
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
72.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.41%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.72
2020
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.2 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
80
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
27.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
7.51%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
10.5%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
4
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.1 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

India South Africa
% of world land
2%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
791 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
689,466 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
281,697 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
4,112,172 mi
2023
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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