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Italy vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population of 59M (ranked 25/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Italy's land area is 114,178 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 72nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Italy ranks 8/197 ($2.38T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Italy ranks 29/197 ($40,385), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Italy South Africa
Population
58562681
65683993
Population rank 26/197 24/197
GDP
$2.38T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 8/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$40,385
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 29/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$62,014
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$3.22T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
135.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$54,652
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 6/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,800
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 114,178 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
513 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.2
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
48.8 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Italy and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Italy and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Italy South Africa
2024 $2,380,825,077,244 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,316,727,999,333 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,104,067,630,319 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,179,207,773,596 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,907,481,094,079 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,019,606,796,584 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,099,435,266,459 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,970,720,904,585 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,887,111,188,177 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,845,428,048,839 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,173,255,507,986 $381,198,869,776
2013 $2,153,225,581,941 $400,886,013,596
2012 $2,097,929,495,122 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,306,974,020,278 $458,199,494,831
2010 $2,144,936,254,535 $417,363,822,802
2009 $2,209,484,319,013 $329,754,060,647
2008 $2,417,508,414,187 $316,131,258,616
2007 $2,222,524,108,128 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,958,563,654,386 $303,858,675,364
2005 $1,864,982,261,287 $288,867,217,197
2004 $1,812,808,753,295 $255,806,908,595
2003 $1,582,930,016,539 $197,018,965,309
2002 $1,281,746,271,196 $129,087,556,612
2001 $1,172,041,488,806 $135,429,905,923
2000 $1,149,661,363,439 $151,752,757,215
1999 $1,255,004,736,464 $151,516,957,079
1998 $1,272,729,786,997 $152,982,984,557
1997 $1,244,988,176,444 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,314,776,508,972 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,177,369,428,266 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,101,750,159,702 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,067,412,587,671 $147,194,747,566
1992 $1,323,204,350,354 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,249,092,439,519 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,183,945,130,899 $126,048,140,142
1989 $930,801,709,004 $108,055,624,082
1988 $893,663,934,841 $103,976,831,871
1987 $807,570,134,449 $96,535,763,418
1986 $641,862,313,287 $73,354,771,399
1985 $453,259,761,687 $64,459,376,087
1984 $438,896,930,791 $84,870,163,366
1983 $444,063,496,940 $96,204,110,942
1982 $428,257,421,618 $85,904,057,409
1981 $431,695,533,981 $93,141,472,164
1980 $478,356,755,596 $89,411,864,402
1979 $394,584,507,108 $63,038,658,089
1978 $315,784,469,541 $51,607,412,902
1977 $258,190,019,750 $45,328,411,332
1976 $225,235,205,862 $41,150,460,288
1975 $228,220,643,535 $42,906,905,672
1974 $200,024,444,775 $41,389,186,095
1973 $175,896,529,392 $33,262,772,008
1972 $145,594,833,997 $24,515,919,217
1971 $124,959,712,859 $23,411,076,638
1970 $113,656,669,765 $21,218,391,513
1969 $100,996,667,239 $19,256,992,297
1968 $91,485,448,148 $17,124,793,150
1967 $84,401,995,573 $15,821,393,671
1966 $76,622,444,787 $14,211,394,315
1965 $70,717,012,186 $13,068,994,772
1964 $65,720,771,779 $11,955,995,218
1963 $60,035,924,618 $10,854,195,658
1962 $52,413,872,628 $9,813,996,074
1961 $46,649,487,320 $9,225,996,310
1960 $42,012,422,612 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Italy and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Italy South Africa
2024 $40,385 $6,267
2023 $39,277 $6,034
2022 $35,654 $6,534
2021 $36,853 $6,829
2020 $32,091 $5,581
2019 $33,813 $6,534
2018 $34,904 $6,914
2017 $32,844 $6,618
2016 $31,392 $5,651
2015 $30,640 $6,112
2014 $36,028 $6,857
2013 $35,702 $7,332
2012 $34,854 $8,077
2011 $38,432 $8,646
2010 $35,857 $7,973
2009 $37,100 $6,375
2008 $40,829 $6,185
2007 $37,826 $6,592
2006 $33,537 $6,077
2005 $32,063 $5,837
2004 $31,348 $5,221
2003 $27,578 $4,062
2002 $22,451 $2,688
2001 $20,570 $2,847
2000 $20,190 $3,218
1999 $22,050 $3,242
1998 $22,365 $3,310
1997 $21,884 $3,700
1996 $23,123 $3,618
1995 $20,712 $3,856
1994 $19,382 $3,489
1993 $18,782 $3,400
1992 $23,297 $3,462
1991 $22,007 $3,243
1990 $20,874 $3,093
1989 $16,424 $2,727
1988 $15,781 $2,702
1987 $14,268 $2,586
1986 $11,341 $2,027
1985 $8,009 $1,839
1984 $7,758 $2,504
1983 $7,851 $2,938
1982 $7,574 $2,717
1981 $7,640 $3,050
1980 $8,476 $3,029
1979 $7,006 $2,202
1978 $5,623 $1,852
1977 $4,614 $1,671
1976 $4,042 $1,559
1975 $4,116 $1,670
1974 $3,629 $1,656
1973 $3,213 $1,369
1972 $2,677 $1,038
1971 $2,311 $1,020
1970 $2,112 $952
1969 $1,886 $891
1968 $1,718 $817
1967 $1,595 $779
1966 $1,459 $722
1965 $1,357 $685
1964 $1,272 $646
1963 $1,171 $605
1962 $1,030 $563
1961 $923 $546
1960 $837 $532

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

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

Italy vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Italy South Africa
2026 84.2 66.7
2025 84 66.5
2024 83.9 66.3
2023 83.7 66.1
2022 82.1 65.5
2021 82.9 62
2020 82.2 65.2
2019 83.3 66.1
2018 83.2 65.7
2017 82.7 65.4
2016 83 64.7
2015 82.5 64.1
2014 82.9 63.2
2013 82.7 62.4
2012 82.3 61.7
2011 82.2 60.6
2010 82.1 58.9
2009 81.8 57.4
2008 81.6 56
2007 81.5 54.9
2006 81.4 54.2
2005 81 53.9
2004 81 54
2003 80.2 54.2
2002 80.1 55.6
2001 79.9 57.2
2000 79.6 58.4
1999 79.2 59.2
1998 78.8 59.9
1997 78.7 60.5
1996 78.4 61.1
1995 78.1 61.6
1994 77.9 62.1
1993 77.7 62.6
1992 77.4 62.8
1991 77 63
1990 77 62.9
1989 76.9 63
1988 76.5 62.9
1987 76.3 62.7
1986 75.9 62.4
1985 75.6 62.2
1984 75.5 61.8
1983 74.7 61.4
1982 74.9 60.9
1981 74.4 60.4
1980 74.1 60
1979 74.1 59.5
1978 73.8 59
1977 73.4 58.5
1976 73.1 58
1975 72.7 57.6
1974 72.8 57.1
1973 72.1 56.7
1972 72.1 56.4
1971 71.9 56
1970 71.6 55.7
1969 70.9 55.4
1968 70.9 55.2
1967 71 55
1966 71 54.7
1965 70.3 54.4
1964 70.4 54.2
1963 69.3 53.9
1962 69.2 53.6
1961 69.8 53.1
1960 69.2 52.6
1959 69.3 51.9
1958 68.9 51.1
1957 67.8 50.2
1956 67.6 49.2
1955 68.3 48.2
1954 67.9 47.1
1953 66.6 46.1
1952 65.9 45
1951 65.3 44.1
1950 65.7 43.1

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

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

Italy and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Italy South Africa
2024 58,952,704 64,007,187
2023 58,984,216 63,212,384
2022 59,013,667 62,378,410
2021 59,133,173 61,502,603
2020 59,438,851 60,562,381
2019 59,729,081 59,587,885
2018 60,148,658 58,613,001
2017 60,002,252 57,635,162
2016 60,115,223 57,259,551
2015 60,229,605 56,723,537
2014 60,320,707 55,594,838
2013 60,311,613 54,678,791
2012 60,191,247 53,782,567
2011 60,026,841 52,995,205
2010 59,819,407 52,344,051
2009 59,555,454 51,728,516
2008 59,211,181 51,114,599
2007 58,756,247 50,528,584
2006 58,399,861 49,998,277
2005 58,166,682 49,490,033
2004 57,828,179 48,991,421
2003 57,399,184 48,500,348
2002 57,089,824 48,019,415
2001 56,976,981 47,566,800
2000 56,942,108 47,159,719
1999 56,916,317 46,730,335
1998 56,906,744 46,223,880
1997 56,890,372 45,666,838
1996 56,860,281 45,123,018
1995 56,844,303 44,541,554
1994 56,843,400 44,004,139
1993 56,831,821 43,297,156
1992 56,797,087 42,443,509
1991 56,758,521 41,687,898
1990 56,719,240 40,746,268
1989 56,671,781 39,628,575
1988 56,629,288 38,480,649
1987 56,601,931 37,326,190
1986 56,596,155 36,180,515
1985 56,593,071 35,042,093
1984 56,576,718 33,892,788
1983 56,564,074 32,739,304
1982 56,543,548 31,615,339
1981 56,501,675 30,541,044
1980 56,433,883 29,518,857
1979 56,317,749 28,634,162
1978 56,155,143 27,869,507
1977 55,955,411 27,118,952
1976 55,718,260 26,395,450
1975 55,441,001 25,690,940
1974 55,110,868 24,989,108
1973 54,751,406 24,294,263
1972 54,381,345 23,609,456
1971 54,073,490 22,942,143
1970 53,821,850 22,279,984
1969 53,537,950 21,614,676
1968 53,235,750 20,957,287
1967 52,900,500 20,314,066
1966 52,519,000 19,690,087
1965 52,112,350 19,089,380
1964 51,675,350 18,511,361
1963 51,252,000 17,954,564
1962 50,879,450 17,418,522
1961 50,536,350 16,908,035
1960 50,199,700 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Italy and South Africa

Fertility rate
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Italy South Africa
2023 1.2 2.22
2022 1.24 2.23
2021 1.25 2.25
2020 1.24 2.26
2019 1.27 2.26
2018 1.31 2.27
2017 1.34 2.28
2016 1.36 2.26
2015 1.36 2.36
2014 1.38 2.42
2013 1.39 2.43
2012 1.42 2.45
2011 1.42 2.44
2010 1.44 2.44
2009 1.44 2.5
2008 1.44 2.68
2007 1.39 2.55
2006 1.37 2.55
2005 1.33 2.51
2004 1.34 2.44
2003 1.29 2.36
2002 1.27 2.32
2001 1.25 2.37
2000 1.26 2.41
1999 1.23 2.56
1998 1.22 2.63
1997 1.22 2.73
1996 1.2 2.99
1995 1.19 3.17
1994 1.21 3.26
1993 1.25 3.37
1992 1.3 3.48
1991 1.3 3.62
1990 1.33 3.72
1989 1.33 3.98
1988 1.36 4.18
1987 1.33 4.35
1986 1.35 4.41
1985 1.42 4.5
1984 1.46 4.57
1983 1.51 4.63
1982 1.56 4.7
1981 1.58 4.71
1980 1.64 4.78
1979 1.73 4.82
1978 1.84 4.85
1977 1.93 4.94
1976 2.04 5.07
1975 2.17 5.19
1974 2.28 5.3
1973 2.3 5.41
1972 2.35 5.49
1971 2.4 5.57
1970 2.38 5.63
1969 2.47 5.72
1968 2.46 5.78
1967 2.5 5.85
1966 2.58 5.91
1965 2.6 5.89
1964 2.66 5.96
1963 2.51 6.01
1962 2.46 6.05
1961 2.44 6.08
1960 2.4 6.11

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

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

Italy and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Italy

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Italy South Africa
2024 48.8 29.5
2023 48.4 29.2
2022 48.1 28.9
2021 47.7 28.6
2020 47.4 28.3
2019 47 27.9
2018 46.6 27.5
2017 46.2 27
2016 45.8 26.7
2015 45.4 26.4
2014 45 26
2013 44.6 25.7
2012 44.2 25.3
2011 43.9 25
2010 43.5 24.6
2009 43.1 24.3
2008 42.8 24
2007 42.6 23.8
2006 42.3 23.5
2005 41.9 23.3
2004 41.6 23.1
2003 41.3 22.8
2002 41 22.4
2001 40.6 22.2
2000 40.3 21.9
1999 39.9 21.6
1998 39.6 21.4
1997 39.4 21.2
1996 39.1 21.2
1995 38.9 21.5
1994 38.6 22
1993 38.2 21.9
1992 37.9 21.5
1991 37.5 21.5
1990 37.1 21.3
1989 36.8 21.1
1988 36.4 20.9
1987 36.1 20.7
1986 35.8 20.5
1985 35.6 20.4
1984 35.3 20.2
1983 34.9 20
1982 34.6 19.8
1981 34.3 19.6
1980 34.1 19.4
1979 34 19.3
1978 33.9 19.2
1977 33.7 19.1
1976 33.6 19
1975 33.5 18.9
1974 33.4 18.9
1973 33.3 18.8
1972 33.2 18.8
1971 33.1 18.8
1970 33 18.8
1969 32.8 18.8
1968 32.7 18.8
1967 32.5 18.8
1966 32.4 18.8
1965 32.3 18.8
1964 32.2 18.9
1963 32.1 18.9
1962 32 18.9
1961 31.8 19
1960 31.6 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Italy South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.28T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.6%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.07%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.61%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
338,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.45%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.5%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
65%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
63.3
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
1,344,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.74%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
74
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0002%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
290
2014
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$587B
2014
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$291B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$11.2B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
38,419,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.65%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
86%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Italy South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,298 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$26.1
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
299.2 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.08 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
76.8%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
17.5%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.95%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
79.6%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
5,047 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
41%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
15.9%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Italy South Africa
% of world population
0.73%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+75,448
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
69.6%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.9:51.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.72 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.31 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
81
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
53
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
91
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.55
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.3%
2019
91.2%
2024
English speaking
13.6%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
89.2%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Italy South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,398
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$758
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
84.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.19
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
31.8 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
6
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
17.8%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
61
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.4%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.97 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Italy South Africa
% of world land
0.2%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,937 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
50,531 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
37,558 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
303,043 mi
2007
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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