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Namibia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Namibia has a population of 3.03M (ranked 136/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Namibia's land area is 317,874 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 33rd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Namibia ranks 147/197 ($13.4B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Namibia ranks 126/197 ($4,413), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Namibia South Africa
Population
3173089
65683993
Population rank 134/197 24/197
GDP
$13.4B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 147/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$4,413
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 126/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,687
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$9.05B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.7%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,988
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 100/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,197
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 317,874 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
9.93 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.21
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
22.1 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
67.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Namibia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Namibia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Namibia South Africa
2024 $13,372,354,512 $401,144,998,374
2023 $12,408,271,449 $381,440,724,491
2022 $12,569,449,123 $407,596,043,068
2021 $12,402,486,184 $419,986,284,375
2020 $10,583,748,542 $337,974,655,408
2019 $12,541,928,303 $389,330,032,224
2018 $13,682,019,076 $405,260,723,893
2017 $12,895,153,371 $381,448,814,653
2016 $10,722,018,732 $323,585,509,674
2015 $11,335,161,084 $346,709,790,459
2014 $12,435,430,970 $381,198,869,776
2013 $12,043,307,277 $400,886,013,596
2012 $13,042,053,592 $434,400,545,086
2011 $12,523,359,441 $458,199,494,831
2010 $11,431,412,421 $417,363,822,802
2009 $8,938,847,189 $329,754,060,647
2008 $8,607,431,497 $316,131,258,616
2007 $8,839,536,476 $333,077,117,254
2006 $8,001,779,551 $303,858,675,364
2005 $7,248,374,838 $288,867,217,197
2004 $6,609,205,995 $255,806,908,595
2003 $4,926,439,384 $197,018,965,309
2002 $3,349,169,826 $129,087,556,612
2001 $3,557,341,215 $135,429,905,923
2000 $3,922,232,165 $151,752,757,215
1999 $3,868,551,730 $151,516,957,079
1998 $3,873,109,866 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,154,989,950 $168,978,057,328
1996 $3,989,163,197 $163,234,925,381
1995 $3,978,514,206 $171,735,933,897
1994 $3,666,503,530 $153,512,712,382
1993 $3,251,188,833 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,429,521,699 $146,956,150,987
1991 $2,996,869,281 $135,203,698,238
1990 $2,789,921,854 $126,048,140,142
1989 $2,535,135,798 $108,055,624,082
1988 $2,495,094,746 $103,976,831,871
1987 $2,300,068,217 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,809,048,527 $73,354,771,399
1985 $1,608,237,350 $64,459,376,087
1984 $1,951,260,038 $84,870,163,366
1983 $2,297,400,688 $96,204,110,942
1982 $2,118,710,248 $85,904,057,409
1981 $2,249,908,578 $93,141,472,164
1980 $2,421,990,338 $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/namibia/south-africa | CC BY

Namibia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Namibia South Africa
2024 $4,413 $6,267
2023 $4,188 $6,034
2022 $4,350 $6,534
2021 $4,413 $6,829
2020 $3,879 $5,581
2019 $4,732 $6,534
2018 $5,309 $6,914
2017 $5,144 $6,618
2016 $4,396 $5,651
2015 $4,774 $6,112
2014 $5,378 $6,857
2013 $5,347 $7,332
2012 $5,943 $8,077
2011 $5,835 $8,646
2010 $5,418 $7,973
2009 $4,303 $6,375
2008 $4,205 $6,185
2007 $4,379 $6,592
2006 $4,017 $6,077
2005 $3,686 $5,837
2004 $3,403 $5,221
2003 $2,569 $4,062
2002 $1,772 $2,688
2001 $1,916 $2,847
2000 $2,157 $3,218
1999 $2,178 $3,242
1998 $2,235 $3,310
1997 $2,460 $3,700
1996 $2,423 $3,618
1995 $2,483 $3,856
1994 $2,356 $3,489
1993 $2,155 $3,400
1992 $2,347 $3,462
1991 $2,117 $3,243
1990 $2,037 $3,093
1989 $1,967 $2,727
1988 $2,063 $2,702
1987 $1,969 $2,586
1986 $1,599 $2,027
1985 $1,466 $1,839
1984 $1,830 $2,504
1983 $2,214 $2,938
1982 $2,097 $2,717
1981 $2,267 $3,050
1980 $2,468 $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/namibia/south-africa | CC BY

Namibia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Namibia South Africa
2026 67.8 66.7
2025 67.7 66.5
2024 67.5 66.3
2023 67.4 66.1
2022 64.2 65.5
2021 60.8 62
2020 64.1 65.2
2019 63.5 66.1
2018 62.6 65.7
2017 61.7 65.4
2016 60.8 64.7
2015 60 64.1
2014 59.3 63.2
2013 58.5 62.4
2012 57.7 61.7
2011 56.6 60.6
2010 56.1 58.9
2009 55.3 57.4
2008 54.7 56
2007 54 54.9
2006 53.2 54.2
2005 52.6 53.9
2004 52.2 54
2003 51.9 54.2
2002 52 55.6
2001 52 57.2
2000 52.9 58.4
1999 54 59.2
1998 54.8 59.9
1997 55.8 60.5
1996 56.6 61.1
1995 57.5 61.6
1994 58.4 62.1
1993 59.3 62.6
1992 60.2 62.8
1991 60.8 63
1990 61.4 62.9
1989 60.8 63
1988 59 62.9
1987 59.1 62.7
1986 58.7 62.4
1985 58.5 62.2
1984 58.1 61.8
1983 57.6 61.4
1982 57.3 60.9
1981 56.9 60.4
1980 56.6 60
1979 59.5 59.5
1978 59.1 59
1977 58.6 58.5
1976 58 58
1975 57.6 57.6
1974 56.9 57.1
1973 56.4 56.7
1972 55.8 56.4
1971 55.3 56
1970 54.7 55.7
1969 54.1 55.4
1968 53.6 55.2
1967 52.9 55
1966 52.3 54.7
1965 52 54.4
1964 51.3 54.2
1963 50.6 53.9
1962 50 53.6
1961 49.2 53.1
1960 48.5 52.6
1959 47.8 51.9
1958 47.1 51.1
1957 46.4 50.2
1956 45.7 49.2
1955 45 48.2
1954 44.4 47.1
1953 43.8 46.1
1952 43.1 45
1951 42.5 44.1
1950 41.9 43.1

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

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

Namibia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Namibia South Africa
2024 3,030,131 64,007,187
2023 2,963,095 63,212,384
2022 2,889,662 62,378,410
2021 2,810,548 61,502,603
2020 2,728,762 60,562,381
2019 2,650,494 59,587,885
2018 2,577,327 58,613,001
2017 2,506,853 57,635,162
2016 2,439,213 57,259,551
2015 2,374,300 56,723,537
2014 2,312,139 55,594,838
2013 2,252,508 54,678,791
2012 2,194,654 53,782,567
2011 2,146,325 52,995,205
2010 2,109,811 52,344,051
2009 2,077,394 51,728,516
2008 2,047,056 51,114,599
2007 2,018,600 50,528,584
2006 1,991,888 49,998,277
2005 1,966,582 49,490,033
2004 1,942,082 48,991,421
2003 1,917,464 48,500,348
2002 1,889,970 48,019,415
2001 1,857,048 47,566,800
2000 1,818,647 47,159,719
1999 1,776,368 46,730,335
1998 1,732,745 46,223,880
1997 1,689,264 45,666,838
1996 1,646,103 45,123,018
1995 1,602,170 44,541,554
1994 1,556,304 44,004,139
1993 1,508,697 43,297,156
1992 1,461,322 42,443,509
1991 1,415,684 41,687,898
1990 1,369,303 40,746,268
1989 1,288,947 39,628,575
1988 1,209,696 38,480,649
1987 1,167,889 37,326,190
1986 1,131,081 36,180,515
1985 1,096,890 35,042,093
1984 1,065,989 33,892,788
1983 1,037,511 32,739,304
1982 1,010,308 31,615,339
1981 992,500 30,541,044
1980 981,434 29,518,857
1979 962,825 28,634,162
1978 947,269 27,869,507
1977 931,104 27,118,952
1976 906,566 26,395,450
1975 881,032 25,690,940
1974 854,320 24,989,108
1973 828,928 24,294,263
1972 804,399 23,609,456
1971 780,584 22,942,143
1970 757,868 22,279,984
1969 736,120 21,614,676
1968 715,542 20,957,287
1967 696,045 20,314,066
1966 677,655 19,690,087
1965 660,558 19,089,380
1964 644,530 18,511,361
1963 629,589 17,954,564
1962 615,759 17,418,522
1961 603,067 16,908,035
1960 591,465 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Namibia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Namibia South Africa
2023 3.21 2.22
2022 3.25 2.23
2021 3.3 2.25
2020 3.35 2.26
2019 3.4 2.26
2018 3.46 2.27
2017 3.51 2.28
2016 3.57 2.26
2015 3.6 2.36
2014 3.64 2.42
2013 3.65 2.43
2012 3.68 2.45
2011 3.66 2.44
2010 3.66 2.44
2009 3.63 2.5
2008 3.62 2.68
2007 3.61 2.55
2006 3.6 2.55
2005 3.57 2.51
2004 3.55 2.44
2003 3.58 2.36
2002 3.69 2.32
2001 3.83 2.37
2000 3.99 2.41
1999 4.14 2.56
1998 4.18 2.63
1997 4.17 2.73
1996 4.2 2.99
1995 4.42 3.17
1994 4.68 3.26
1993 4.91 3.37
1992 5.11 3.48
1991 5.29 3.62
1990 5.4 3.72
1989 5.52 3.98
1988 5.61 4.18
1987 5.7 4.35
1986 5.79 4.41
1985 5.88 4.5
1984 5.94 4.57
1983 6 4.63
1982 6.08 4.7
1981 6.16 4.71
1980 6.24 4.78
1979 6.31 4.82
1978 6.38 4.85
1977 6.44 4.94
1976 6.49 5.07
1975 6.53 5.19
1974 6.55 5.3
1973 6.54 5.41
1972 6.53 5.49
1971 6.52 5.57
1970 6.52 5.63
1969 6.51 5.72
1968 6.5 5.78
1967 6.49 5.85
1966 6.47 5.91
1965 6.45 5.89
1964 6.43 5.96
1963 6.41 6.01
1962 6.35 6.05
1961 6.29 6.08
1960 6.24 6.11

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

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

Namibia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Namibia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Namibia South Africa
2024 22.1 29.5
2023 21.9 29.2
2022 21.8 28.9
2021 21.8 28.6
2020 21.8 28.3
2019 21.8 27.9
2018 21.7 27.5
2017 21.6 27
2016 21.5 26.7
2015 21.4 26.4
2014 21.3 26
2013 21.1 25.7
2012 20.9 25.3
2011 20.7 25
2010 20.5 24.6
2009 20.3 24.3
2008 20 24
2007 19.9 23.8
2006 19.7 23.5
2005 19.6 23.3
2004 19.4 23.1
2003 19.3 22.8
2002 19.2 22.4
2001 19.1 22.2
2000 19 21.9
1999 18.9 21.6
1998 18.9 21.4
1997 18.8 21.2
1996 18.7 21.2
1995 18.6 21.5
1994 18.5 22
1993 18.5 21.9
1992 18.4 21.5
1991 18.4 21.5
1990 18.3 21.3
1989 17.8 21.1
1988 17.3 20.9
1987 17 20.7
1986 16.9 20.5
1985 16.7 20.4
1984 16.5 20.2
1983 16.4 20
1982 16.3 19.8
1981 16.4 19.6
1980 16.6 19.4
1979 16.8 19.3
1978 17 19.2
1977 17.3 19.1
1976 17.5 19
1975 17.6 18.9
1974 17.7 18.9
1973 17.8 18.8
1972 17.9 18.8
1971 18 18.8
1970 18.1 18.8
1969 18.1 18.8
1968 18.2 18.8
1967 18.3 18.8
1966 18.3 18.8
1965 18.4 18.8
1964 18.4 18.9
1963 18.5 18.9
1962 18.6 18.9
1961 18.7 19
1960 18.9 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Namibia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$12.8B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
9.08%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.73%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
16,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.59%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
19.9%
2018
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.9%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
60.2
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
47.2%
2015
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1%
2015
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
12
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.48B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.36B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$96.7M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
187,100
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.99%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
72.9%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Namibia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
692 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.4
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.65 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.2 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
53.5%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
30%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
5.88%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
60.5%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,231 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
90.9%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
58.7%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
56.7%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Namibia South Africa
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+1,866
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
50.4%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.8:51.2
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.57 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.26 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
41.8
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
46
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
40
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
12.5
2021
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
34.8
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
79
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
87.6%
2023
91.2%
2024
English speaking
17.2%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
64.4%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Namibia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$397
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$29.7
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
67.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
11.4%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.55
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.6 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
139
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
40.7
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
17.5%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.3%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
36
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
14.1%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
5.05 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Namibia South Africa
% of world land
0.55%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
104,904 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
149,854 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,810 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) (2000–2025, 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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