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Iraq vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population of 46M (ranked 34/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Iraq's land area is 167,619 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 57th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Iraq ranks 50/197 ($280B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Iraq ranks 113/197 ($6,074), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Iraq South Africa
Population
48289334
65683993
Population rank 33/197 24/197
GDP
$280B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 50/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$6,074
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 113/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,464
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$130B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.5%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,822
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 105/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,928
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 167,619 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
286.5 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.25
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
21.6 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Iraq and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Iraq and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Iraq South Africa
2024 $279,641,257,615 $401,144,998,374
2023 $268,881,051,644 $381,440,724,491
2022 $287,372,232,138 $407,596,043,068
2021 $209,691,945,713 $419,986,284,375
2020 $180,898,797,517 $337,974,655,408
2019 $233,636,097,800 $389,330,032,224
2018 $227,367,469,034 $405,260,723,893
2017 $187,217,660,051 $381,448,814,653
2016 $166,743,557,748 $323,585,509,674
2015 $166,774,104,959 $346,709,790,459
2014 $228,415,656,175 $381,198,869,776
2013 $234,637,675,129 $400,886,013,596
2012 $218,002,476,129 $434,400,545,086
2011 $185,749,664,444 $458,199,494,831
2010 $138,516,722,650 $417,363,822,802
2009 $111,657,580,326 $329,754,060,647
2008 $131,614,434,154 $316,131,258,616
2007 $88,837,057,320 $333,077,117,254
2006 $65,147,051,918 $303,858,675,364
2005 $50,065,104,668 $288,867,217,197
2004 $36,633,669,269 $255,806,908,595
2003 $21,921,569,479 $197,018,965,309
2002 $32,928,454,672 $129,087,556,612
2001 $36,176,430,129 $135,429,905,923
2000 $48,364,250,944 $151,752,757,215
1999 $36,881,601,584 $151,516,957,079
1998 $20,617,405,044 $152,982,984,557
1997 $20,764,857,056 $168,978,057,328
1996 $10,433,698,621 $163,234,925,381
1995 $12,894,029,888 $171,735,933,897
1994 $3,991,349,283 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,031,944,881 $147,194,747,566
1992 $553,671,958 $146,956,150,987
1991 $407,796,350 $135,203,698,238
1990 $180,408,064,516 $126,048,140,142
1989 $65,831,935,484 $108,055,624,082
1988 $62,684,516,129 $103,976,831,871
1987 $56,774,193,548 $96,535,763,418
1986 $47,264,516,129 $73,354,771,399
1985 $48,425,161,290 $64,459,376,087
1984 $46,938,387,097 $84,870,163,366
1983 $40,712,903,226 $96,204,110,942
1982 $42,382,333,333 $85,904,057,409
1981 $37,823,000,000 $93,141,472,164
1980 $52,569,000,000 $89,411,864,402
1979 $37,816,457,839 $63,038,658,089
1978 $23,762,275,652 $51,607,412,902
1977 $19,838,130,715 $45,328,411,332
1976 $17,754,825,601 $41,150,460,288
1975 $13,458,516,763 $42,906,905,672
1974 $11,516,762,614 $41,389,186,095
1973 $5,134,367,778 $33,262,772,008
1972 $4,113,848,002 $24,515,919,217
1971 $3,865,346,535 $23,411,076,638
1970 $3,281,318,687 $21,218,391,513
1969 $3,007,758,797 $19,256,992,297
1968 $2,896,598,841 $17,124,793,150
1967 $2,551,522,656 $15,821,393,671
1966 $2,530,306,096 $14,211,394,315
1965 $2,335,785,506 $13,068,994,772
1964 $2,136,408,198 $11,955,995,218
1963 $1,805,901,510 $10,854,195,658
1962 $1,784,174,541 $9,813,996,074
1961 $1,671,960,965 $9,225,996,310
1960 $1,537,252,193 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Iraq and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iraq South Africa
2024 $6,074 $6,267
2023 $5,965 $6,034
2022 $6,521 $6,534
2021 $4,868 $6,829
2020 $4,295 $5,581
2019 $5,672 $6,534
2018 $5,647 $6,914
2017 $4,759 $6,618
2016 $4,334 $5,651
2015 $4,440 $6,112
2014 $6,249 $6,857
2013 $6,650 $7,332
2012 $6,478 $8,077
2011 $5,776 $8,646
2010 $4,462 $7,973
2009 $3,715 $6,375
2008 $4,543 $6,185
2007 $3,129 $6,592
2006 $2,277 $6,077
2005 $1,762 $5,837
2004 $1,328 $5,221
2003 $818 $4,062
2002 $1,266 $2,688
2001 $1,436 $2,847
2000 $1,980 $3,218
1999 $1,560 $3,242
1998 $901 $3,310
1997 $936 $3,700
1996 $485 $3,618
1995 $619 $3,856
1994 $198.2 $3,489
1993 $53.7 $3,400
1992 $30.3 $3,462
1991 $23 $3,243
1990 $10,261 $3,093
1989 $3,791 $2,727
1988 $3,707 $2,702
1987 $3,436 $2,586
1986 $2,940 $2,027
1985 $3,088 $1,839
1984 $3,066 $2,504
1983 $2,743 $2,938
1982 $2,942 $2,717
1981 $2,700 $3,050
1980 $3,868 $3,029
1979 $2,871 $2,202
1978 $1,863 $1,852
1977 $1,609 $1,671
1976 $1,489 $1,559
1975 $1,166 $1,670
1974 $1,031 $1,656
1973 $476 $1,369
1972 $394 $1,038
1971 $384 $1,020
1970 $337 $952
1969 $320 $891
1968 $319 $817
1967 $290.6 $779
1966 $298.2 $722
1965 $284.8 $685
1964 $269.4 $646
1963 $235.5 $605
1962 $240.7 $563
1961 $232.4 $546
1960 $218.9 $532

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

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

Iraq vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iraq South Africa
2026 72.6 66.7
2025 72.5 66.5
2024 72.4 66.3
2023 72.3 66.1
2022 72 65.5
2021 70.7 62
2020 69.7 65.2
2019 71.2 66.1
2018 71.1 65.7
2017 69.8 65.4
2016 68.7 64.7
2015 70 64.1
2014 69.7 63.2
2013 69 62.4
2012 68.8 61.7
2011 68.4 60.6
2010 68.1 58.9
2009 67.8 57.4
2008 66.5 56
2007 64.4 54.9
2006 64 54.2
2005 64.9 53.9
2004 64.6 54
2003 64.8 54.2
2002 65.7 55.6
2001 65.3 57.2
2000 64.9 58.4
1999 64.5 59.2
1998 64.4 59.9
1997 64.2 60.5
1996 64.6 61.1
1995 64.8 61.6
1994 65 62.1
1993 65.3 62.6
1992 65.3 62.8
1991 61.3 63
1990 57.6 62.9
1989 57.5 63
1988 56.7 62.9
1987 60.3 62.7
1986 60 62.4
1985 59.8 62.2
1984 59.5 61.8
1983 59.3 61.4
1982 59 60.9
1981 58.7 60.4
1980 60.9 60
1979 64.4 59.5
1978 64.2 59
1977 63.9 58.5
1976 63.6 58
1975 61.4 57.6
1974 61 57.1
1973 62.3 56.7
1972 61.8 56.4
1971 61.3 56
1970 60.5 55.7
1969 59.6 55.4
1968 59 55.2
1967 58.4 55
1966 57.3 54.7
1965 56.4 54.4
1964 55.2 54.2
1963 54.4 53.9
1962 53.5 53.6
1961 52.3 53.1
1960 51.5 52.6
1959 49.7 51.9
1958 49 51.1
1957 47.7 50.2
1956 46.4 49.2
1955 45 48.2
1954 43.5 47.1
1953 42.1 46.1
1952 40.5 45
1951 39 44.1
1950 37.4 43.1

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

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

Iraq and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Africa
2024 46,042,015 64,007,187
2023 45,074,049 63,212,384
2022 44,070,551 62,378,410
2021 43,071,211 61,502,603
2020 42,116,605 60,562,381
2019 41,192,171 59,587,885
2018 40,265,624 58,613,001
2017 39,337,353 57,635,162
2016 38,469,627 57,259,551
2015 37,560,535 56,723,537
2014 36,550,059 55,594,838
2013 35,281,989 54,678,791
2012 33,654,842 53,782,567
2011 32,161,424 52,995,205
2010 31,045,366 52,344,051
2009 30,058,206 51,728,516
2008 28,971,036 51,114,599
2007 28,391,607 50,528,584
2006 28,616,515 49,998,277
2005 28,407,448 49,490,033
2004 27,577,878 48,991,421
2003 26,802,659 48,500,348
2002 26,006,559 48,019,415
2001 25,197,840 47,566,800
2000 24,424,056 47,159,719
1999 23,636,527 46,730,335
1998 22,884,399 46,223,880
1997 22,176,593 45,666,838
1996 21,501,321 45,123,018
1995 20,825,860 44,541,554
1994 20,139,807 44,004,139
1993 19,201,195 43,297,156
1992 18,300,845 42,443,509
1991 17,767,253 41,687,898
1990 17,581,206 40,746,268
1989 17,364,542 39,628,575
1988 16,908,819 38,480,649
1987 16,521,049 37,326,190
1986 16,074,145 36,180,515
1985 15,683,430 35,042,093
1984 15,310,733 33,892,788
1983 14,840,555 32,739,304
1982 14,406,083 31,615,339
1981 14,006,381 30,541,044
1980 13,591,992 29,518,857
1979 13,170,365 28,634,162
1978 12,753,355 27,869,507
1977 12,331,046 27,118,952
1976 11,927,651 26,395,450
1975 11,543,639 25,690,940
1974 11,167,761 24,989,108
1973 10,795,869 24,294,263
1972 10,430,164 23,609,456
1971 10,077,809 22,942,143
1970 9,735,611 22,279,984
1969 9,403,356 21,614,676
1968 9,085,016 20,957,287
1967 8,778,869 20,314,066
1966 8,485,104 19,690,087
1965 8,202,140 19,089,380
1964 7,929,566 18,511,361
1963 7,667,928 17,954,564
1962 7,413,875 17,418,522
1961 7,194,553 16,908,035
1960 7,022,052 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Iraq and South Africa

Fertility rate
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iraq South Africa
2023 3.25 2.22
2022 3.29 2.23
2021 3.36 2.25
2020 3.42 2.26
2019 3.48 2.26
2018 3.55 2.27
2017 3.64 2.28
2016 3.84 2.26
2015 4.08 2.36
2014 4.31 2.42
2013 4.44 2.43
2012 4.54 2.45
2011 4.59 2.44
2010 4.46 2.44
2009 4.38 2.5
2008 4.37 2.68
2007 4.4 2.55
2006 4.46 2.55
2005 4.45 2.51
2004 4.53 2.44
2003 4.58 2.36
2002 4.67 2.32
2001 4.8 2.37
2000 4.92 2.41
1999 5.04 2.56
1998 5.11 2.63
1997 5.19 2.73
1996 5.25 2.99
1995 5.36 3.17
1994 5.49 3.26
1993 5.61 3.37
1992 5.72 3.48
1991 5.83 3.62
1990 5.93 3.72
1989 5.99 3.98
1988 6.05 4.18
1987 6.11 4.35
1986 6.18 4.41
1985 6.25 4.5
1984 6.32 4.57
1983 6.39 4.63
1982 6.46 4.7
1981 6.53 4.71
1980 6.59 4.78
1979 6.66 4.82
1978 6.73 4.85
1977 6.8 4.94
1976 6.86 5.07
1975 6.91 5.19
1974 6.95 5.3
1973 6.99 5.41
1972 7.02 5.49
1971 7.06 5.57
1970 7.07 5.63
1969 7.08 5.72
1968 7.06 5.78
1967 7.03 5.85
1966 7.02 5.91
1965 7.02 5.89
1964 7.01 5.96
1963 7.01 6.01
1962 6.99 6.05
1961 5.8 6.08
1960 5.3 6.11

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

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

Iraq and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Iraq

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Iraq South Africa
2024 21.6 29.5
2023 21.4 29.2
2022 21.1 28.9
2021 20.9 28.6
2020 20.6 28.3
2019 20.4 27.9
2018 20.1 27.5
2017 19.9 27
2016 19.7 26.7
2015 19.5 26.4
2014 19.4 26
2013 19.3 25.7
2012 19.2 25.3
2011 19.1 25
2010 19 24.6
2009 18.9 24.3
2008 18.8 24
2007 18.7 23.8
2006 18.6 23.5
2005 18.5 23.3
2004 18.3 23.1
2003 18.2 22.8
2002 18.1 22.4
2001 18 22.2
2000 17.9 21.9
1999 17.9 21.6
1998 17.8 21.4
1997 17.7 21.2
1996 17.6 21.2
1995 17.5 21.5
1994 17.4 22
1993 17.3 21.9
1992 17.3 21.5
1991 17.2 21.5
1990 17.1 21.3
1989 17 21.1
1988 16.9 20.9
1987 16.9 20.7
1986 16.8 20.5
1985 16.7 20.4
1984 16.6 20.2
1983 16.6 20
1982 16.5 19.8
1981 16.5 19.6
1980 16.5 19.4
1979 16.5 19.3
1978 16.6 19.2
1977 16.6 19.1
1976 16.7 19
1975 17 18.9
1974 17.2 18.9
1973 17.5 18.8
1972 17.7 18.8
1971 17.9 18.8
1970 18.1 18.8
1969 18.3 18.8
1968 18.5 18.8
1967 18.7 18.8
1966 19 18.8
1965 19.3 18.8
1964 19.5 18.9
1963 19.8 18.9
1962 20.1 18.9
1961 20.4 19
1960 20.4 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iraq South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$277B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
42.9%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.55%
1989
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.36%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
459,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.14%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
16.2%
2021
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
45.8%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
51.6%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
15.6
2002
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.2%
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 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
$101B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$696M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
892,000
2013
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.88%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
30.2%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Iraq South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,412 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.2
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
238.7 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.18 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.7%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
1.1%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.37%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-274.9%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,373 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
3.78%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Iraq South Africa
% of world population
0.57%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-1,064
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
69.9%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.7 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
39.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
28
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
52
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.41
2013
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
27.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
41
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
84.1%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
35%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
81.7%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Iraq South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$333
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$179.9
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
1.15%
2022
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.02
2022
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
66
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
22.6
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
41.4%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.24 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Iraq South Africa
% of world land
0.29%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
3,641 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
36,592 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,185 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2002–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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