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Mexico vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Mexico has a population of 131M (ranked 11/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Mexico's land area is 750,563 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 13th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Mexico ranks 13/197 ($1.86T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Mexico ranks 69/197 ($14,186), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Mexico South Africa
Population
133323134
65683993
Population rank 11/197 24/197
GDP
$1.86T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 13/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$14,186
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 69/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$26,185
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$1.08T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
58.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$8,272
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 63/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,231
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 750,563 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
177.3 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.91
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
30.3 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Mexico and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Mexico and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Mexico South Africa
2024 $1,856,365,616,166 $401,144,998,374
2023 $1,798,317,581,487 $381,440,724,491
2022 $1,466,934,724,293 $407,596,043,068
2021 $1,316,569,466,686 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,121,064,767,308 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,304,106,203,902 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,256,300,182,880 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,190,721,475,906 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,112,233,497,453 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,213,294,467,717 $346,709,790,459
2014 $1,364,507,717,614 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,327,436,290,283 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,255,110,424,818 $434,400,545,086
2011 $1,229,013,703,417 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,105,424,238,731 $417,363,822,802
2009 $943,437,415,025 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,161,553,459,715 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,102,355,554,972 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,020,265,057,882 $303,858,675,364
2005 $917,571,853,529 $288,867,217,197
2004 $819,459,227,375 $255,806,908,595
2003 $765,549,967,703 $197,018,965,309
2002 $810,666,116,402 $129,087,556,612
2001 $796,064,590,549 $135,429,905,923
2000 $742,061,329,749 $151,752,757,215
1999 $631,249,359,702 $151,516,957,079
1998 $557,461,102,631 $152,982,984,557
1997 $523,449,530,464 $168,978,057,328
1996 $432,157,945,024 $163,234,925,381
1995 $380,157,469,867 $171,735,933,897
1994 $553,618,247,901 $153,512,712,382
1993 $530,160,763,663 $147,194,747,566
1992 $363,157,832,924 $146,956,150,987
1991 $313,139,656,146 $135,203,698,238
1990 $261,253,675,693 $126,048,140,142
1989 $221,403,098,267 $108,055,624,082
1988 $181,611,150,497 $103,976,831,871
1987 $147,542,558,209 $96,535,763,418
1986 $134,556,034,673 $73,354,771,399
1985 $195,241,069,482 $64,459,376,087
1984 $184,230,754,105 $84,870,163,366
1983 $156,167,000,433 $96,204,110,942
1982 $184,602,611,610 $85,904,057,409
1981 $263,797,827,860 $93,141,472,164
1980 $205,577,055,466 $89,411,864,402
1979 $134,531,900,899 $63,038,658,089
1978 $102,648,570,299 $51,607,412,902
1977 $81,912,018,784 $45,328,411,332
1976 $88,875,923,765 $41,150,460,288
1975 $88,000,000,000 $42,906,905,672
1974 $72,000,000,000 $41,389,186,095
1973 $55,280,000,000 $33,262,772,008
1972 $45,200,000,000 $24,515,919,217
1971 $39,200,000,000 $23,411,076,638
1970 $35,520,000,000 $21,218,391,513
1969 $32,480,000,000 $19,256,992,297
1968 $29,360,000,000 $17,124,793,150
1967 $26,560,000,000 $15,821,393,671
1966 $24,320,000,000 $14,211,394,315
1965 $21,840,000,000 $13,068,994,772
1964 $20,080,000,000 $11,955,995,218
1963 $16,960,000,000 $10,854,195,658
1962 $15,200,000,000 $9,813,996,074
1961 $14,160,000,000 $9,225,996,310
1960 $13,040,000,000 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Mexico and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Mexico South Africa
2024 $14,186 $6,267
2023 $13,861 $6,034
2022 $11,406 $6,534
2021 $10,314 $6,829
2020 $8,841 $5,581
2019 $10,370 $6,534
2018 $10,085 $6,914
2017 $9,649 $6,618
2016 $9,098 $5,651
2015 $10,021 $6,112
2014 $11,391 $6,857
2013 $11,217 $7,332
2012 $10,744 $8,077
2011 $10,664 $8,646
2010 $9,729 $7,973
2009 $8,424 $6,375
2008 $10,524 $6,185
2007 $10,134 $6,592
2006 $9,513 $6,077
2005 $8,672 $5,837
2004 $7,850 $5,221
2003 $7,434 $4,062
2002 $7,983 $2,688
2001 $7,953 $2,847
2000 $7,524 $3,218
1999 $6,500 $3,242
1998 $5,833 $3,310
1997 $5,567 $3,700
1996 $4,674 $3,618
1995 $4,184 $3,856
1994 $6,202 $3,489
1993 $6,048 $3,400
1992 $4,221 $3,462
1991 $3,709 $3,243
1990 $3,154 $3,093
1989 $2,725 $2,727
1988 $2,279 $2,702
1987 $1,888 $2,586
1986 $1,757 $2,027
1985 $2,602 $1,839
1984 $2,506 $2,504
1983 $2,170 $2,938
1982 $2,621 $2,717
1981 $3,829 $3,050
1980 $3,055 $3,029
1979 $2,049 $2,202
1978 $1,604 $1,852
1977 $1,315 $1,671
1976 $1,465 $1,559
1975 $1,492 $1,670
1974 $1,256 $1,656
1973 $993 $1,369
1972 $837 $1,038
1971 $748 $1,020
1970 $699 $952
1969 $660 $891
1968 $616 $817
1967 $576 $779
1966 $545 $722
1965 $506 $685
1964 $481 $646
1963 $420 $605
1962 $388 $563
1961 $374 $546
1960 $355 $532

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

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

Mexico vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Mexico South Africa
2026 75.6 66.7
2025 75.4 66.5
2024 75.3 66.3
2023 75.1 66.1
2022 74 65.5
2021 69.7 62
2020 70.4 65.2
2019 74.5 66.1
2018 74.3 65.7
2017 74.3 65.4
2016 74.4 64.7
2015 74.4 64.1
2014 74.4 63.2
2013 74.3 62.4
2012 74.1 61.7
2011 73.9 60.6
2010 73.7 58.9
2009 73.6 57.4
2008 73.7 56
2007 73.8 54.9
2006 73.7 54.2
2005 73.6 53.9
2004 73.4 54
2003 73.3 54.2
2002 73.1 55.6
2001 72.9 57.2
2000 72.6 58.4
1999 72.2 59.2
1998 71.8 59.9
1997 71.5 60.5
1996 71.1 61.1
1995 70.7 61.6
1994 70.3 62.1
1993 70 62.6
1992 69.7 62.8
1991 69.4 63
1990 69 62.9
1989 68.6 63
1988 68.3 62.9
1987 67.9 62.7
1986 67.4 62.4
1985 66.8 62.2
1984 66.2 61.8
1983 65.8 61.4
1982 65.3 60.9
1981 64.7 60.4
1980 64.3 60
1979 63.9 59.5
1978 63.4 59
1977 63 58.5
1976 62.5 58
1975 61.9 57.6
1974 61.2 57.1
1973 60.5 56.7
1972 60.1 56.4
1971 59.4 56
1970 58.9 55.7
1969 58.4 55.4
1968 58.2 55.2
1967 58 55
1966 57.4 54.7
1965 56.7 54.4
1964 55.9 54.2
1963 55.5 53.9
1962 55.1 53.6
1961 54.4 53.1
1960 53.6 52.6
1959 52.7 51.9
1958 51.8 51.1
1957 51.1 50.2
1956 50.4 49.2
1955 49.6 48.2
1954 48.3 47.1
1953 47 46.1
1952 45.7 45
1951 44.8 44.1
1950 43.8 43.1

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

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

Mexico and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Mexico South Africa
2024 130,861,007 64,007,187
2023 129,739,759 63,212,384
2022 128,613,117 62,378,410
2021 127,648,148 61,502,603
2020 126,799,054 60,562,381
2019 125,762,982 59,587,885
2018 124,573,711 58,613,001
2017 123,400,057 57,635,162
2016 122,251,351 57,259,551
2015 121,072,306 56,723,537
2014 119,784,261 55,594,838
2013 118,343,573 54,678,791
2012 116,818,208 53,782,567
2011 115,243,504 52,995,205
2010 113,623,895 52,344,051
2009 111,999,721 51,728,516
2008 110,374,288 51,114,599
2007 108,774,360 50,528,584
2006 107,253,666 49,998,277
2005 105,811,504 49,490,033
2004 104,394,131 48,991,421
2003 102,978,515 48,500,348
2002 101,548,624 48,019,415
2001 100,099,099 47,566,800
2000 98,625,552 47,159,719
1999 97,115,707 46,730,335
1998 95,575,245 46,223,880
1997 94,021,207 45,666,838
1996 92,452,702 45,123,018
1995 90,862,455 44,541,554
1994 89,259,205 44,004,139
1993 87,653,807 43,297,156
1992 86,044,809 42,443,509
1991 84,430,572 41,687,898
1990 82,820,170 40,746,268
1989 81,247,182 39,628,575
1988 79,695,531 38,480,649
1987 78,136,651 37,326,190
1986 76,585,637 36,180,515
1985 75,043,414 35,042,093
1984 73,506,846 33,892,788
1983 71,971,240 32,739,304
1982 70,433,260 31,615,339
1981 68,892,108 30,541,044
1980 67,300,334 29,518,857
1979 65,648,865 28,634,162
1978 63,979,046 27,869,507
1977 62,308,493 27,118,952
1976 60,645,512 26,395,450
1975 58,982,400 25,690,940
1974 57,320,149 24,989,108
1973 55,667,284 24,294,263
1972 54,030,168 23,609,456
1971 52,412,558 22,942,143
1970 50,814,953 22,279,984
1969 49,233,194 21,614,676
1968 47,668,303 20,957,287
1967 46,129,608 20,314,066
1966 44,629,106 19,690,087
1965 43,174,477 19,089,380
1964 41,772,049 18,511,361
1963 40,424,065 17,954,564
1962 39,129,200 17,418,522
1961 37,890,118 16,908,035
1960 36,724,615 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Mexico and South Africa

Fertility rate
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Mexico South Africa
2023 1.91 2.22
2022 1.94 2.23
2021 1.97 2.25
2020 1.99 2.26
2019 2.02 2.26
2018 2.03 2.27
2017 2.04 2.28
2016 2.09 2.26
2015 2.14 2.36
2014 2.21 2.42
2013 2.27 2.43
2012 2.29 2.45
2011 2.32 2.44
2010 2.34 2.44
2009 2.36 2.5
2008 2.39 2.68
2007 2.42 2.55
2006 2.46 2.55
2005 2.5 2.51
2004 2.54 2.44
2003 2.58 2.36
2002 2.63 2.32
2001 2.67 2.37
2000 2.71 2.41
1999 2.76 2.56
1998 2.82 2.63
1997 2.89 2.73
1996 2.96 2.99
1995 3.04 3.17
1994 3.13 3.26
1993 3.21 3.37
1992 3.29 3.48
1991 3.36 3.62
1990 3.44 3.72
1989 3.53 3.98
1988 3.64 4.18
1987 3.8 4.35
1986 3.97 4.41
1985 4.09 4.5
1984 4.18 4.57
1983 4.3 4.63
1982 4.43 4.7
1981 4.57 4.71
1980 4.74 4.78
1979 4.96 4.82
1978 5.2 4.85
1977 5.36 4.94
1976 5.54 5.07
1975 5.74 5.19
1974 5.95 5.3
1973 6.12 5.41
1972 6.28 5.49
1971 6.42 5.57
1970 6.53 5.63
1969 6.63 5.72
1968 6.71 5.78
1967 6.75 5.85
1966 6.79 5.91
1965 6.82 5.89
1964 6.83 5.96
1963 6.82 6.01
1962 6.8 6.05
1961 6.78 6.08
1960 6.76 6.11

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

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

Mexico and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Mexico

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Mexico South Africa
2024 30.3 29.5
2023 29.9 29.2
2022 29.5 28.9
2021 29.2 28.6
2020 29 28.3
2019 28.6 27.9
2018 28.3 27.5
2017 28 27
2016 27.6 26.7
2015 27.3 26.4
2014 27 26
2013 26.7 25.7
2012 26.4 25.3
2011 26.1 25
2010 25.8 24.6
2009 25.6 24.3
2008 25.3 24
2007 25 23.8
2006 24.7 23.5
2005 24.4 23.3
2004 24.1 23.1
2003 23.8 22.8
2002 23.5 22.4
2001 23.1 22.2
2000 22.8 21.9
1999 22.5 21.6
1998 22.2 21.4
1997 22 21.2
1996 21.7 21.2
1995 21.4 21.5
1994 21 22
1993 20.7 21.9
1992 20.4 21.5
1991 20 21.5
1990 19.7 21.3
1989 19.4 21.1
1988 19.2 20.9
1987 18.9 20.7
1986 18.6 20.5
1985 18.3 20.4
1984 18 20.2
1983 17.7 20
1982 17.4 19.8
1981 17.1 19.6
1980 16.8 19.4
1979 16.6 19.3
1978 16.5 19.2
1977 16.4 19.1
1976 16.2 19
1975 16.2 18.9
1974 16.1 18.9
1973 16.1 18.8
1972 16 18.8
1971 16 18.8
1970 16.1 18.8
1969 16.1 18.8
1968 16.1 18.8
1967 16.1 18.8
1966 16.2 18.8
1965 16.2 18.8
1964 16.3 18.9
1963 16.3 18.9
1962 16.4 18.9
1961 16.5 19
1960 16.6 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Mexico South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$1.68T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.3%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.07%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.89%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
341,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.73%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.62%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
31.8%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
59.8
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.4%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
399,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.46%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
22
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00003%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
129
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$418B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$232B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$67.6B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
51,128,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.57%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
53%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Mexico South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,560 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$16.2
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
476 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.64 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
88.7%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
13%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
5.94%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
21.6%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,609 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
24.4%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
5.45%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
3.24%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
99.7%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Mexico South Africa
% of world population
1.61%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-108,037
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
79.8%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.5:51.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.59 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.18 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
49.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
27
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
24.9
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12.8
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
150
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
95.9%
2025
91.2%
2024
English speaking
13%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
81.2%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Mexico South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$761
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$314
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
75.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.59
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
42
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
12.5
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
36.9%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
16.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
49
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
14.9%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.79 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Mexico South Africa
% of world land
1.31%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
5,736 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
380,486 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
252,159 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
519,841 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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