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Moldova vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Moldova has a population of 2.4M (ranked 143/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Moldova's land area is 12,714 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 135th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Moldova ranks 134/197 ($18.2B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Moldova ranks 99/197 ($7,576), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Moldova South Africa
Population
2341166
65683993
Population rank 145/197 24/197
GDP
$18.2B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 134/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$7,576
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 99/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,615
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$7.06B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,938
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 102/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,291
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 12,714 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
184.1 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.73
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
39.1 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
71.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Moldova and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Moldova and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Moldova South Africa
2024 $18,200,340,854 $401,144,998,374
2023 $16,711,906,746 $381,440,724,491
2022 $14,525,337,524 $407,596,043,068
2021 $13,691,869,264 $419,986,284,375
2020 $11,530,746,234 $337,974,655,408
2019 $11,736,797,055 $389,330,032,224
2018 $11,252,353,421 $405,260,723,893
2017 $9,514,404,016 $381,448,814,653
2016 $7,980,917,076 $323,585,509,674
2015 $7,797,667,197 $346,709,790,459
2014 $9,402,090,138 $381,198,869,776
2013 $9,496,717,876 $400,886,013,596
2012 $8,709,138,635 $434,400,545,086
2011 $8,414,352,020 $458,199,494,831
2010 $6,974,982,370 $417,363,822,802
2009 $5,439,434,272 $329,754,060,647
2008 $6,054,824,248 $316,131,258,616
2007 $4,401,173,152 $333,077,117,254
2006 $3,408,255,451 $303,858,675,364
2005 $2,988,342,907 $288,867,217,197
2004 $2,598,249,556 $255,806,908,595
2003 $1,980,907,435 $197,018,965,309
2002 $1,661,818,168 $129,087,556,612
2001 $1,480,673,594 $135,429,905,923
2000 $1,288,429,392 $151,752,757,215
1999 $1,170,782,957 $151,516,957,079
1998 $1,698,717,505 $152,982,984,557
1997 $1,930,081,169 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,695,122,174 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,752,999,370 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,702,314,268 $153,512,712,382
1993 $2,371,813,324 $147,194,747,566
1992 $2,319,243,436 $146,956,150,987
1991 $3,094,565,871 $135,203,698,238
1990 $3,592,857,043 $126,048,140,142
1989 - $108,055,624,082
1988 - $103,976,831,871
1987 - $96,535,763,418
1986 - $73,354,771,399
1985 - $64,459,376,087
1984 - $84,870,163,366
1983 - $96,204,110,942
1982 - $85,904,057,409
1981 - $93,141,472,164
1980 - $89,411,864,402
1979 - $63,038,658,089
1978 - $51,607,412,902
1977 - $45,328,411,332
1976 - $41,150,460,288
1975 - $42,906,905,672
1974 - $41,389,186,095
1973 - $33,262,772,008
1972 - $24,515,919,217
1971 - $23,411,076,638
1970 - $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

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

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

Moldova and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Moldova South Africa
2024 $7,576 $6,267
2023 $6,800 $6,034
2022 $5,744 $6,534
2021 $5,275 $6,829
2020 $4,376 $5,581
2019 $4,405 $6,534
2018 $4,156 $6,914
2017 $3,453 $6,618
2016 $2,847 $5,651
2015 $2,750 $6,112
2014 $3,290 $6,857
2013 $3,321 $7,332
2012 $3,045 $8,077
2011 $2,941 $8,646
2010 $2,437 $7,973
2009 $1,898 $6,375
2008 $2,111 $6,185
2007 $1,531 $6,592
2006 $1,183 $6,077
2005 $1,034 $5,837
2004 $897 $5,221
2003 $682 $4,062
2002 $571 $2,688
2001 $507 $2,847
2000 $441 $3,218
1999 $399 $3,242
1998 $579 $3,310
1997 $657 $3,700
1996 $575 $3,618
1995 $594 $3,856
1994 $574 $3,489
1993 $797 $3,400
1992 $778 $3,462
1991 $1,038 $3,243
1990 $1,207 $3,093
1989 - $2,727
1988 - $2,702
1987 - $2,586
1986 - $2,027
1985 - $1,839
1984 - $2,504
1983 - $2,938
1982 - $2,717
1981 - $3,050
1980 - $3,029
1979 - $2,202
1978 - $1,852
1977 - $1,671
1976 - $1,559
1975 - $1,670
1974 - $1,656
1973 - $1,369
1972 - $1,038
1971 - $1,020
1970 - $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

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

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

Moldova vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Moldova South Africa
2026 71.6 66.7
2025 71.5 66.5
2024 71.3 66.3
2023 71.2 66.1
2022 71.5 65.5
2021 69 62
2020 69.9 65.2
2019 70.2 66.1
2018 70.2 65.7
2017 70.4 65.4
2016 70.2 64.7
2015 70.1 64.1
2014 70.2 63.2
2013 70.3 62.4
2012 70.3 61.7
2011 70.2 60.6
2010 69.9 58.9
2009 69.4 57.4
2008 69 56
2007 68.7 54.9
2006 68.4 54.2
2005 68.2 53.9
2004 68 54
2003 67.9 54.2
2002 67.8 55.6
2001 67.7 57.2
2000 67.5 58.4
1999 67.2 59.2
1998 66.8 59.9
1997 66.5 60.5
1996 66.2 61.1
1995 66.2 61.6
1994 66.3 62.1
1993 66.7 62.6
1992 66.7 62.8
1991 67.6 63
1990 67.9 62.9
1989 68.2 63
1988 68.2 62.9
1987 67.9 62.7
1986 67.4 62.4
1985 66.9 62.2
1984 66.4 61.8
1983 66.1 61.4
1982 65.9 60.9
1981 65.6 60.4
1980 65.2 60
1979 64.8 59.5
1978 64.5 59
1977 64.2 58.5
1976 64 58
1975 63.7 57.6
1974 63.4 57.1
1973 63.2 56.7
1972 62.9 56.4
1971 62.7 56
1970 62.4 55.7
1969 62.2 55.4
1968 62 55.2
1967 61.8 55
1966 61.6 54.7
1965 61.3 54.4
1964 61 54.2
1963 60.6 53.9
1962 60.3 53.6
1961 59.9 53.1
1960 59.4 52.6
1959 59 51.9
1958 58.5 51.1
1957 58 50.2
1956 57.4 49.2
1955 56.9 48.2
1954 56.3 47.1
1953 55.7 46.1
1952 55.1 45
1951 54.5 44.1
1950 54 43.1

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

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

Moldova and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Moldova South Africa
2024 2,402,306 64,007,187
2023 2,457,783 63,212,384
2022 2,528,654 62,378,410
2021 2,595,809 61,502,603
2020 2,635,130 60,562,381
2019 2,664,224 59,587,885
2018 2,707,203 58,613,001
2017 2,755,189 57,635,162
2016 2,803,186 57,259,551
2015 2,835,978 56,723,537
2014 2,857,815 55,594,838
2013 2,859,558 54,678,791
2012 2,860,324 53,782,567
2011 2,860,699 52,995,205
2010 2,862,354 52,344,051
2009 2,865,213 51,728,516
2008 2,868,833 51,114,599
2007 2,874,299 50,528,584
2006 2,880,967 49,998,277
2005 2,888,985 49,490,033
2004 2,896,023 48,991,421
2003 2,903,198 48,500,348
2002 2,911,385 48,019,415
2001 2,918,135 47,566,800
2000 2,924,668 47,159,719
1999 2,930,622 46,730,335
1998 2,935,227 46,223,880
1997 2,936,413 45,666,838
1996 2,947,293 45,123,018
1995 2,953,200 44,541,554
1994 2,966,745 44,004,139
1993 2,975,966 43,297,156
1992 2,980,965 42,443,509
1991 2,981,566 41,687,898
1990 2,977,912 40,746,268
1989 2,970,039 39,628,575
1988 2,948,891 38,480,649
1987 2,916,306 37,326,190
1986 2,883,057 36,180,515
1985 2,850,787 35,042,093
1984 2,820,518 33,892,788
1983 2,791,207 32,739,304
1982 2,763,101 31,615,339
1981 2,735,987 30,541,044
1980 2,708,675 29,518,857
1979 2,683,035 28,634,162
1978 2,656,211 27,869,507
1977 2,626,298 27,118,952
1976 2,596,491 26,395,450
1975 2,566,998 25,690,940
1974 2,538,164 24,989,108
1973 2,510,584 24,294,263
1972 2,484,742 23,609,456
1971 2,460,611 22,942,143
1970 2,437,590 22,279,984
1969 2,408,469 21,614,676
1968 2,373,073 20,957,287
1967 2,337,695 20,314,066
1966 2,301,871 19,690,087
1965 2,265,287 19,089,380
1964 2,228,000 18,511,361
1963 2,188,895 17,954,564
1962 2,147,227 17,418,522
1961 2,103,327 16,908,035
1960 2,058,020 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Moldova and South Africa

Fertility rate
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Moldova South Africa
2023 1.73 2.22
2022 1.69 2.23
2021 1.75 2.25
2020 1.77 2.26
2019 1.78 2.26
2018 1.81 2.27
2017 1.81 2.28
2016 1.89 2.26
2015 1.87 2.36
2014 1.82 2.42
2013 1.62 2.43
2012 1.66 2.45
2011 1.65 2.44
2010 1.7 2.44
2009 1.72 2.5
2008 1.64 2.68
2007 1.58 2.55
2006 1.54 2.55
2005 1.53 2.51
2004 1.54 2.44
2003 1.48 2.36
2002 1.45 2.32
2001 1.47 2.37
2000 1.5 2.41
1999 1.56 2.56
1998 1.65 2.63
1997 1.79 2.73
1996 1.71 2.99
1995 1.83 3.17
1994 1.99 3.26
1993 2.11 3.37
1992 2.22 3.48
1991 2.28 3.62
1990 2.39 3.72
1989 2.46 3.98
1988 2.63 4.18
1987 2.78 4.35
1986 2.74 4.41
1985 2.67 4.5
1984 2.67 4.57
1983 2.58 4.63
1982 2.45 4.7
1981 2.4 4.71
1980 2.38 4.78
1979 2.38 4.82
1978 2.39 4.85
1977 2.42 4.94
1976 2.47 5.07
1975 2.52 5.19
1974 2.56 5.3
1973 2.57 5.41
1972 2.56 5.49
1971 2.56 5.57
1970 2.57 5.63
1969 2.57 5.72
1968 2.59 5.78
1967 2.62 5.85
1966 2.65 5.91
1965 2.69 5.89
1964 2.71 5.96
1963 2.89 6.01
1962 3.04 6.05
1961 3.23 6.08
1960 3.32 6.11

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

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

Moldova and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Moldova

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Moldova South Africa
2024 39.1 29.5
2023 38.8 29.2
2022 38.6 28.9
2021 38.3 28.6
2020 38 28.3
2019 37.6 27.9
2018 37.2 27.5
2017 36.8 27
2016 36.5 26.7
2015 36.1 26.4
2014 35.7 26
2013 35.4 25.7
2012 35.1 25.3
2011 34.9 25
2010 34.6 24.6
2009 34.3 24.3
2008 33.9 24
2007 33.6 23.8
2006 33.3 23.5
2005 33 23.3
2004 32.8 23.1
2003 32.6 22.8
2002 32.4 22.4
2001 32.2 22.2
2000 32 21.9
1999 31.8 21.6
1998 31.5 21.4
1997 31.3 21.2
1996 31.2 21.2
1995 31 21.5
1994 30.8 22
1993 30.6 21.9
1992 30.4 21.5
1991 30.2 21.5
1990 29.8 21.3
1989 29.5 21.1
1988 29.3 20.9
1987 29.1 20.7
1986 28.9 20.5
1985 28.7 20.4
1984 28.5 20.2
1983 28.3 20
1982 28.1 19.8
1981 27.9 19.6
1980 27.6 19.4
1979 27.6 19.3
1978 27.5 19.2
1977 27.2 19.1
1976 26.9 19
1975 26.7 18.9
1974 26.5 18.9
1973 26.3 18.8
1972 26.3 18.8
1971 26.3 18.8
1970 26.4 18.8
1969 26.4 18.8
1968 26.3 18.8
1967 26.1 18.8
1966 25.9 18.8
1965 25.7 18.8
1964 25.4 18.9
1963 25.1 18.9
1962 24.9 18.9
1961 24.7 19
1960 24.6 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Moldova South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$16.5B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
38%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.63%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.6%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
6,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.88%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.43%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
62.3%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.1
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.8%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
4.3%
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
$5.48B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.92B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
29,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
11%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
55.5%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Moldova South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,297 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$13.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
8.21 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.42 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
81.3%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
21.4%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.78%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
81.2%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,412 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.5%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
4.73%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Moldova South Africa
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-29,766
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
43.5%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
46:54
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
50.2
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
42
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
39
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.54
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
7.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
122
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.6%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
2%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
80.2%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Moldova South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$452
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$124.1
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
71.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.1%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.02
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
25.1 years
2021
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
19
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
14.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
23.7%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.3%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
57
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
29.7%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
11.1 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Moldova South Africa
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
5,293 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,421 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,492 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,811 mi
2012
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) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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