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Nauru vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nauru has a population of 11.9K (ranked 195/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Nauru's land area is 7.72 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 195th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Nauru ranks 195/197 ($163M) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Nauru ranks 74/197 ($13,609), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Nauru South Africa
Population
12125
65683993
Population rank 195/197 24/197
GDP
$163M
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 195/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$13,609
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 74/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,173
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$28.3M
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
17.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,367
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 113/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$8,783
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 7.72 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
1,568 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.33
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
21.4 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
62.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Nauru and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Nauru and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Nauru South Africa
2024 $162,588,621 $401,144,998,374
2023 $151,435,610 $381,440,724,491
2022 $152,373,434 $407,596,043,068
2021 $175,390,281 $419,986,284,375
2020 $124,685,688 $337,974,655,408
2019 $125,160,116 $389,330,032,224
2018 $130,995,566 $405,260,723,893
2017 $109,355,639 $381,448,814,653
2016 $97,541,943 $323,585,509,674
2015 $84,863,441 $346,709,790,459
2014 $99,149,244 $381,198,869,776
2013 $94,385,015 $400,886,013,596
2012 $101,055,723 $434,400,545,086
2011 $65,071,880 $458,199,494,831
2010 $47,562,845 $417,363,822,802
2009 $44,176,246 $329,754,060,647
2008 $37,602,265 $316,131,258,616
2007 $22,766,972 $333,077,117,254
2006 $29,200,359 $303,858,675,364
2005 $30,070,666 $288,867,217,197
2004 $30,587,566 $255,806,908,595
2003 $24,778,160 $197,018,965,309
2002 $21,017,424 $129,087,556,612
2001 $22,613,288 $135,429,905,923
2000 $26,930,980 $151,752,757,215
1999 $27,328,613 $151,516,957,079
1998 $29,664,451 $152,982,984,557
1997 $37,331,507 $168,978,057,328
1996 $37,458,801 $163,234,925,381
1995 $39,969,706 $171,735,933,897
1994 $39,742,511 $153,512,712,382
1993 $43,542,088 $147,194,747,566
1992 $51,133,123 $146,956,150,987
1991 $52,533,789 $135,203,698,238
1990 $55,572,376 $126,048,140,142
1989 $53,736,786 $108,055,624,082
1988 $45,931,134 $103,976,831,871
1987 $40,118,410 $96,535,763,418
1986 $39,939,391 $73,354,771,399
1985 $41,548,741 $64,459,376,087
1984 $47,363,231 $84,870,163,366
1983 $48,439,093 $96,204,110,942
1982 $52,877,742 $85,904,057,409
1981 $51,689,637 $93,141,472,164
1980 $46,947,124 $89,411,864,402
1979 $44,431,330 $63,038,658,089
1978 $41,754,147 $51,607,412,902
1977 $40,444,702 $45,328,411,332
1976 $40,287,427 $41,150,460,288
1975 $40,106,776 $42,906,905,672
1974 $35,994,511 $41,389,186,095
1973 $26,529,817 $33,262,772,008
1972 $21,734,269 $24,515,919,217
1971 $19,009,433 $23,411,076,638
1970 $17,570,366 $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/nauru/south-africa | CC BY

Nauru and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Nauru South Africa
2024 $13,609 $6,267
2023 $12,752 $6,034
2022 $12,912 $6,534
2021 $14,979 $6,829
2020 $10,709 $5,581
2019 $10,802 $6,534
2018 $11,414 $6,914
2017 $9,657 $6,618
2016 $8,748 $5,651
2015 $7,747 $6,112
2014 $9,230 $6,857
2013 $8,975 $7,332
2012 $9,843 $8,077
2011 $6,444 $8,646
2010 $4,736 $7,973
2009 $4,411 $6,375
2008 $3,757 $6,185
2007 $2,272 $6,592
2006 $2,910 $6,077
2005 $2,992 $5,837
2004 $3,041 $5,221
2003 $2,463 $4,062
2002 $2,085 $2,688
2001 $2,232 $2,847
2000 $2,649 $3,218
1999 $2,683 $3,242
1998 $2,909 $3,310
1997 $3,661 $3,700
1996 $3,679 $3,618
1995 $3,932 $3,856
1994 $3,921 $3,489
1993 $4,310 $3,400
1992 $5,103 $3,462
1991 $5,333 $3,243
1990 $5,776 $3,093
1989 $5,723 $2,727
1988 $5,012 $2,702
1987 $4,485 $2,586
1986 $4,569 $2,027
1985 $4,859 $1,839
1984 $5,654 $2,504
1983 $5,896 $2,938
1982 $6,577 $2,717
1981 $6,594 $3,050
1980 $6,138 $3,029
1979 $5,950 $2,202
1978 $5,721 $1,852
1977 $5,646 $1,671
1976 $5,703 $1,559
1975 $5,740 $1,670
1974 $5,199 $1,656
1973 $3,864 $1,369
1972 $3,191 $1,038
1971 $2,811 $1,020
1970 $2,619 $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/nauru/south-africa | CC BY

Nauru vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Nauru South Africa
2026 62.6 66.7
2025 62.4 66.5
2024 62.3 66.3
2023 62.1 66.1
2022 61.9 65.5
2021 61.3 62
2020 61.5 65.2
2019 61.4 66.1
2018 61.2 65.7
2017 61.1 65.4
2016 61 64.7
2015 60.9 64.1
2014 60.8 63.2
2013 60.7 62.4
2012 60.5 61.7
2011 60.3 60.6
2010 60.1 58.9
2009 59.9 57.4
2008 59.7 56
2007 59.5 54.9
2006 59.4 54.2
2005 59.4 53.9
2004 59.3 54
2003 59.4 54.2
2002 59.4 55.6
2001 59.5 57.2
2000 59.6 58.4
1999 59.7 59.2
1998 59.9 59.9
1997 60 60.5
1996 60.1 61.1
1995 60.1 61.6
1994 60 62.1
1993 59.8 62.6
1992 59.5 62.8
1991 59.3 63
1990 59.1 62.9
1989 58.9 63
1988 58.7 62.9
1987 58.6 62.7
1986 58.6 62.4
1985 58.6 62.2
1984 58.7 61.8
1983 58.7 61.4
1982 58.6 60.9
1981 58.6 60.4
1980 58.5 60
1979 58.4 59.5
1978 58.3 59
1977 58.1 58.5
1976 58.2 58
1975 58.3 57.6
1974 58.3 57.1
1973 58.4 56.7
1972 58.4 56.4
1971 58.4 56
1970 58.4 55.7
1969 58.4 55.4
1968 58.6 55.2
1967 58.6 55
1966 58.4 54.7
1965 58.3 54.4
1964 58.2 54.2
1963 58.1 53.9
1962 58 53.6
1961 58 53.1
1960 57.9 52.6
1959 57.9 51.9
1958 57.8 51.1
1957 57.7 50.2
1956 57.6 49.2
1955 57.5 48.2
1954 57.4 47.1
1953 57.2 46.1
1952 57 45
1951 56.8 44.1
1950 56.6 43.1

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

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

Nauru and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Nauru South Africa
2024 11,947 64,007,187
2023 11,875 63,212,384
2022 11,801 62,378,410
2021 11,709 61,502,603
2020 11,643 60,562,381
2019 11,587 59,587,885
2018 11,477 58,613,001
2017 11,324 57,635,162
2016 11,150 57,259,551
2015 10,954 56,723,537
2014 10,742 55,594,838
2013 10,517 54,678,791
2012 10,267 53,782,567
2011 10,098 52,995,205
2010 10,043 52,344,051
2009 10,016 51,728,516
2008 10,009 51,114,599
2007 10,020 50,528,584
2006 10,034 49,998,277
2005 10,049 49,490,033
2004 10,060 48,991,421
2003 10,059 48,500,348
2002 10,082 48,019,415
2001 10,130 47,566,800
2000 10,168 47,159,719
1999 10,187 46,730,335
1998 10,198 46,223,880
1997 10,197 45,666,838
1996 10,183 45,123,018
1995 10,165 44,541,554
1994 10,137 44,004,139
1993 10,102 43,297,156
1992 10,021 42,443,509
1991 9,850 41,687,898
1990 9,622 40,746,268
1989 9,390 39,628,575
1988 9,165 38,480,649
1987 8,946 37,326,190
1986 8,742 36,180,515
1985 8,551 35,042,093
1984 8,377 33,892,788
1983 8,216 32,739,304
1982 8,040 31,615,339
1981 7,839 30,541,044
1980 7,649 29,518,857
1979 7,468 28,634,162
1978 7,298 27,869,507
1977 7,163 27,118,952
1976 7,064 26,395,450
1975 6,987 25,690,940
1974 6,923 24,989,108
1973 6,866 24,294,263
1972 6,812 23,609,456
1971 6,762 22,942,143
1970 6,710 22,279,984
1969 6,581 21,614,676
1968 6,328 20,957,287
1967 6,135 20,314,066
1966 6,043 19,690,087
1965 5,832 19,089,380
1964 5,515 18,511,361
1963 5,226 17,954,564
1962 4,979 17,418,522
1961 4,774 16,908,035
1960 4,607 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Nauru and South Africa

Fertility rate
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nauru South Africa
2023 3.33 2.22
2022 3.38 2.23
2021 3.43 2.25
2020 3.47 2.26
2019 3.53 2.26
2018 3.68 2.27
2017 3.88 2.28
2016 4.03 2.26
2015 4.08 2.36
2014 4.09 2.42
2013 4.1 2.43
2012 4.12 2.45
2011 4.12 2.44
2010 4.02 2.44
2009 3.85 2.5
2008 3.67 2.68
2007 3.5 2.55
2006 3.4 2.55
2005 3.38 2.51
2004 3.38 2.44
2003 3.39 2.36
2002 3.4 2.32
2001 3.46 2.37
2000 3.54 2.41
1999 3.64 2.56
1998 3.68 2.63
1997 3.74 2.73
1996 3.78 2.99
1995 3.81 3.17
1994 3.84 3.26
1993 3.89 3.37
1992 3.95 3.48
1991 3.99 3.62
1990 4.02 3.72
1989 4.07 3.98
1988 4.11 4.18
1987 4.14 4.35
1986 4.15 4.41
1985 4.14 4.5
1984 4.11 4.57
1983 4.06 4.63
1982 3.99 4.7
1981 3.94 4.71
1980 3.88 4.78
1979 3.85 4.82
1978 3.84 4.85
1977 3.86 4.94
1976 3.9 5.07
1975 3.97 5.19
1974 4.07 5.3
1973 4.19 5.41
1972 4.36 5.49
1971 4.54 5.57
1970 4.74 5.63
1969 4.94 5.72
1968 5.14 5.78
1967 5.29 5.85
1966 5.41 5.91
1965 5.48 5.89
1964 5.47 5.96
1963 5.44 6.01
1962 5.42 6.05
1961 5.38 6.08
1960 5.34 6.11

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

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

Nauru and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Nauru

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Nauru South Africa
2024 21.4 29.5
2023 21.5 29.2
2022 21.6 28.9
2021 21.7 28.6
2020 21.8 28.3
2019 21.9 27.9
2018 21.8 27.5
2017 21.6 27
2016 21.5 26.7
2015 21.4 26.4
2014 21.5 26
2013 21.6 25.7
2012 21.7 25.3
2011 21.8 25
2010 21.8 24.6
2009 21.8 24.3
2008 21.7 24
2007 21.5 23.8
2006 21.3 23.5
2005 21.2 23.3
2004 21 23.1
2003 20.8 22.8
2002 20.6 22.4
2001 20.4 22.2
2000 20.1 21.9
1999 19.8 21.6
1998 19.6 21.4
1997 19.5 21.2
1996 19.4 21.2
1995 19.3 21.5
1994 19.3 22
1993 19.3 21.9
1992 19.4 21.5
1991 19.7 21.5
1990 20.2 21.3
1989 20.8 21.1
1988 21.4 20.9
1987 22.1 20.7
1986 22.8 20.5
1985 23.7 20.4
1984 24.5 20.2
1983 25.2 20
1982 25.1 19.8
1981 24.7 19.6
1980 24.2 19.4
1979 23.6 19.3
1978 22.9 19.2
1977 22.1 19.1
1976 21.5 19
1975 21 18.9
1974 20.4 18.9
1973 19.8 18.8
1972 19.4 18.8
1971 19.1 18.8
1970 18.7 18.8
1969 18.9 18.8
1968 21.2 18.8
1967 22.9 18.8
1966 22.9 18.8
1965 23.1 18.8
1964 23.4 18.9
1963 23.7 18.9
1962 23.9 18.9
1961 24 19
1960 23.8 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Nauru South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$244M
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
122.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.68%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel n/a
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+29.8%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.06%
2021
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
60
2025
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.3%
2012
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2012
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 n/a
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$2.24M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.32%
2018
2.89%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.1%
2024

Energy

Nauru South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
1.9%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
9.82%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Nauru South Africa
% of world population
0.0001%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-122
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
100%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.18 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
51.2
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
56
2025
41
2025
Higher education index n/a
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0
2012
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
1
2025
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
89
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.6%
2023
91.2%
2024
English speaking
96.7%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
81.7%
2020
75.7%
2023

Health

Nauru South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$2,292
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.8
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
62.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
13.4%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.27
2015
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
22.1 years
2017
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
273
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.9
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
71.1%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
21.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
93
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
48.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
2.79 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Nauru South Africa
% of world land
0.00001%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
646 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
1.54 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
0 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
18.6 mi
2002
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)

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