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Nepal vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nepal has a population of 29.7M (ranked 51/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Nepal's land area is 55,348 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 92nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Nepal ranks 101/197 ($42.9B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Nepal ranks 164/197 ($1,447), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Nepal South Africa
Population
29596762
65683993
Population rank 52/197 24/197
GDP
$42.9B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 101/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$1,447
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 164/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,737
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$20.7B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
48.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$700
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 154/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,170
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 55,348 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
535 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.98
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
26 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
71.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Nepal and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Nepal and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Nepal South Africa
2024 $42,914,268,287 $401,144,998,374
2023 $41,047,772,331 $381,440,724,491
2022 $41,182,939,601 $407,596,043,068
2021 $36,924,841,394 $419,986,284,375
2020 $33,433,659,301 $337,974,655,408
2019 $34,186,180,699 $389,330,032,224
2018 $33,111,525,237 $405,260,723,893
2017 $28,971,588,940 $381,448,814,653
2016 $24,524,109,484 $323,585,509,674
2015 $24,360,801,287 $346,709,790,459
2014 $22,731,612,922 $381,198,869,776
2013 $22,162,204,925 $400,886,013,596
2012 $21,703,100,877 $434,400,545,086
2011 $21,573,872,421 $458,199,494,831
2010 $16,002,656,434 $417,363,822,802
2009 $12,854,985,464 $329,754,060,647
2008 $12,545,438,605 $316,131,258,616
2007 $10,325,618,017 $333,077,117,254
2006 $9,043,715,356 $303,858,675,364
2005 $8,130,258,378 $288,867,217,197
2004 $7,273,938,315 $255,806,908,595
2003 $6,330,473,097 $197,018,965,309
2002 $6,050,875,807 $129,087,556,612
2001 $6,007,055,042 $135,429,905,923
2000 $5,494,252,208 $151,752,757,215
1999 $5,033,642,384 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,856,255,044 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,918,691,917 $168,978,057,328
1996 $4,521,580,381 $163,234,925,381
1995 $4,401,104,418 $171,735,933,897
1994 $4,066,775,510 $153,512,712,382
1993 $3,660,041,667 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,401,211,581 $146,956,150,987
1991 $3,921,476,085 $135,203,698,238
1990 $3,627,560,239 $126,048,140,142
1989 $3,525,225,787 $108,055,624,082
1988 $3,487,009,748 $103,976,831,871
1987 $2,957,255,380 $96,535,763,418
1986 $2,850,782,044 $73,354,771,399
1985 $2,619,913,956 $64,459,376,087
1984 $2,581,207,388 $84,870,163,366
1983 $2,447,174,803 $96,204,110,942
1982 $2,395,423,742 $85,904,057,409
1981 $2,275,583,317 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,945,916,583 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,851,250,008 $63,038,658,089
1978 $1,604,162,497 $51,607,412,902
1977 $1,382,400,000 $45,328,411,332
1976 $1,452,788,985 $41,150,460,288
1975 $1,575,789,254 $42,906,905,672
1974 $1,217,953,547 $41,389,186,095
1973 $972,101,725 $33,262,772,008
1972 $1,024,098,400 $24,515,919,217
1971 $882,765,472 $23,411,076,638
1970 $865,975,309 $21,218,391,513
1969 $788,641,965 $19,256,992,297
1968 $772,231,387 $17,124,793,150
1967 $841,974,025 $15,821,393,671
1966 $906,811,944 $14,211,394,315
1965 $735,267,082 $13,068,994,772
1964 $496,098,775 $11,955,995,218
1963 $496,947,904 $10,854,195,658
1962 $574,091,101 $9,813,996,074
1961 $531,959,562 $9,225,996,310
1960 $508,334,414 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Nepal and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Nepal South Africa
2024 $1,447 $6,267
2023 $1,382 $6,034
2022 $1,386 $6,534
2021 $1,253 $6,829
2020 $1,154 $5,581
2019 $1,203 $6,534
2018 $1,179 $6,914
2017 $1,034 $6,618
2016 $877 $5,651
2015 $876 $6,112
2014 $821 $6,857
2013 $803 $7,332
2012 $788 $8,077
2011 $786 $8,646
2010 $585 $7,973
2009 $473 $6,375
2008 $465 $6,185
2007 $385 $6,592
2006 $340 $6,077
2005 $309 $5,837
2004 $279.6 $5,221
2003 $246.4 $4,062
2002 $238.9 $2,688
2001 $240.8 $2,847
2000 $223.8 $3,218
1999 $208.6 $3,242
1998 $205.1 $3,310
1997 $211.8 $3,700
1996 $198.8 $3,618
1995 $197.8 $3,856
1994 $187.3 $3,489
1993 $172.8 $3,400
1992 $165 $3,462
1991 $195.7 $3,243
1990 $185.8 $3,093
1989 $185 $2,727
1988 $187.1 $2,702
1987 $162 $2,586
1986 $159.5 $2,027
1985 $149.9 $1,839
1984 $151.1 $2,504
1983 $146.6 $2,938
1982 $147 $2,717
1981 $142.9 $3,050
1980 $125.1 $3,029
1979 $121.9 $2,202
1978 $108.1 $1,852
1977 $95.3 $1,671
1976 $102.5 $1,559
1975 $113.6 $1,670
1974 $89.8 $1,656
1973 $73.2 $1,369
1972 $78.8 $1,038
1971 $69.5 $1,020
1970 $69.6 $952
1969 $64.8 $891
1968 $64.9 $817
1967 $72.3 $779
1966 $79.5 $722
1965 $65.8 $685
1964 $45.3 $646
1963 $46.3 $605
1962 $54.6 $563
1961 $51.6 $546
1960 $50.2 $532

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

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

Nepal vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Nepal South Africa
2026 71.2 66.7
2025 70.9 66.5
2024 70.6 66.3
2023 70.4 66.1
2022 70.1 65.5
2021 68.4 62
2020 69.1 65.2
2019 69.3 66.1
2018 69 65.7
2017 68.7 65.4
2016 68.4 64.7
2015 67.4 64.1
2014 67.8 63.2
2013 67.6 62.4
2012 67.4 61.7
2011 67.1 60.6
2010 66.8 58.9
2009 66.6 57.4
2008 66.4 56
2007 66.2 54.9
2006 65.9 54.2
2005 65.3 53.9
2004 64.7 54
2003 64.2 54.2
2002 63.5 55.6
2001 63.3 57.2
2000 62.6 58.4
1999 62 59.2
1998 61.5 59.9
1997 60.8 60.5
1996 60 61.1
1995 59.3 61.6
1994 58.6 62.1
1993 57.6 62.6
1992 56.7 62.8
1991 55.6 63
1990 54.8 62.9
1989 54 63
1988 53.1 62.9
1987 52.4 62.7
1986 51.6 62.4
1985 50.9 62.2
1984 50.2 61.8
1983 49.7 61.4
1982 49.2 60.9
1981 48.7 60.4
1980 48.3 60
1979 47.8 59.5
1978 47.2 59
1977 46.6 58.5
1976 46 58
1975 45.5 57.6
1974 44.9 57.1
1973 44.5 56.7
1972 44.1 56.4
1971 43.6 56
1970 43.2 55.7
1969 42.7 55.4
1968 42.2 55.2
1967 41.7 55
1966 41.2 54.7
1965 40.7 54.4
1964 40.2 54.2
1963 39.6 53.9
1962 39.3 53.6
1961 39 53.1
1960 38.7 52.6
1959 38.4 51.9
1958 38.1 51.1
1957 38 50.2
1956 37.9 49.2
1955 37.9 48.2
1954 37.8 47.1
1953 37.7 46.1
1952 37.7 45
1951 37.6 44.1
1950 37.6 43.1

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

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

Nepal and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Nepal South Africa
2024 29,651,054 64,007,187
2023 29,694,614 63,212,384
2022 29,715,436 62,378,410
2021 29,475,010 61,502,603
2020 28,966,574 60,562,381
2019 28,414,064 59,587,885
2018 28,079,689 58,613,001
2017 28,011,258 57,635,162
2016 27,955,462 57,259,551
2015 27,823,629 56,723,537
2014 27,672,370 55,594,838
2013 27,589,996 54,678,791
2012 27,534,915 53,782,567
2011 27,464,494 52,995,205
2010 27,341,952 52,344,051
2009 27,173,035 51,728,516
2008 26,990,037 51,114,599
2007 26,788,492 50,528,584
2006 26,565,425 49,998,277
2005 26,309,458 49,490,033
2004 26,016,656 48,991,421
2003 25,688,758 48,500,348
2002 25,328,981 48,019,415
2001 24,946,748 47,566,800
2000 24,546,509 47,159,719
1999 24,125,199 46,730,335
1998 23,680,357 46,223,880
1997 23,219,463 45,666,838
1996 22,741,862 45,123,018
1995 22,245,439 44,541,554
1994 21,717,479 44,004,139
1993 21,180,159 43,297,156
1992 20,609,707 42,443,509
1991 20,036,500 41,687,898
1990 19,524,573 40,746,268
1989 19,057,807 39,628,575
1988 18,638,661 38,480,649
1987 18,250,505 37,326,190
1986 17,868,124 36,180,515
1985 17,477,692 35,042,093
1984 17,085,242 33,892,788
1983 16,689,119 32,739,304
1982 16,297,987 31,615,339
1981 15,922,423 30,541,044
1980 15,553,105 29,518,857
1979 15,190,590 28,634,162
1978 14,839,695 27,869,507
1977 14,499,175 27,118,952
1976 14,177,649 26,395,450
1975 13,870,695 25,690,940
1974 13,568,435 24,989,108
1973 13,275,239 24,294,263
1972 12,989,099 23,609,456
1971 12,710,061 22,942,143
1970 12,436,190 22,279,984
1969 12,167,036 21,614,676
1968 11,906,266 20,957,287
1967 11,652,716 20,314,066
1966 11,408,710 19,690,087
1965 11,173,411 19,089,380
1964 10,946,392 18,511,361
1963 10,729,818 17,954,564
1962 10,521,116 17,418,522
1961 10,318,396 16,908,035
1960 10,123,658 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Nepal and South Africa

Fertility rate
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nepal South Africa
2023 1.98 2.22
2022 2 2.23
2021 2.03 2.25
2020 2.05 2.26
2019 2.08 2.26
2018 2.12 2.27
2017 2.17 2.28
2016 2.23 2.26
2015 2.27 2.36
2014 2.32 2.42
2013 2.36 2.43
2012 2.42 2.45
2011 2.46 2.44
2010 2.54 2.44
2009 2.63 2.5
2008 2.74 2.68
2007 2.86 2.55
2006 2.97 2.55
2005 3.12 2.51
2004 3.28 2.44
2003 3.44 2.36
2002 3.6 2.32
2001 3.79 2.37
2000 3.98 2.41
1999 4.13 2.56
1998 4.28 2.63
1997 4.44 2.73
1996 4.67 2.99
1995 4.87 3.17
1994 4.96 3.26
1993 5.04 3.37
1992 5.07 3.48
1991 5.15 3.62
1990 5.21 3.72
1989 5.26 3.98
1988 5.31 4.18
1987 5.35 4.35
1986 5.4 4.41
1985 5.46 4.5
1984 5.51 4.57
1983 5.54 4.63
1982 5.55 4.7
1981 5.58 4.71
1980 5.6 4.78
1979 5.64 4.82
1978 5.68 4.85
1977 5.69 4.94
1976 5.72 5.07
1975 5.73 5.19
1974 5.75 5.3
1973 5.7 5.41
1972 5.8 5.49
1971 5.85 5.57
1970 5.87 5.63
1969 5.89 5.72
1968 5.94 5.78
1967 5.95 5.85
1966 5.98 5.91
1965 6.01 5.89
1964 6.04 5.96
1963 6.06 6.01
1962 6.08 6.05
1961 6.09 6.08
1960 6.07 6.11

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

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

Nepal and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Nepal

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Nepal South Africa
2024 26 29.5
2023 25.7 29.2
2022 25.4 28.9
2021 25 28.6
2020 24.5 28.3
2019 23.7 27.9
2018 23.2 27.5
2017 22.9 27
2016 22.7 26.7
2015 22.4 26.4
2014 22.2 26
2013 22 25.7
2012 21.8 25.3
2011 21.6 25
2010 21.3 24.6
2009 21 24.3
2008 20.8 24
2007 20.5 23.8
2006 20.3 23.5
2005 20 23.3
2004 19.8 23.1
2003 19.7 22.8
2002 19.5 22.4
2001 19.4 22.2
2000 19.3 21.9
1999 19.3 21.6
1998 19.2 21.4
1997 19.2 21.2
1996 19.2 21.2
1995 19.2 21.5
1994 19.2 22
1993 19.2 21.9
1992 19.2 21.5
1991 19.2 21.5
1990 19.2 21.3
1989 19.2 21.1
1988 19.2 20.9
1987 19.3 20.7
1986 19.4 20.5
1985 19.4 20.4
1984 19.5 20.2
1983 19.5 20
1982 19.5 19.8
1981 19.5 19.6
1980 19.6 19.4
1979 19.6 19.3
1978 19.6 19.2
1977 19.7 19.1
1976 19.7 19
1975 19.7 18.9
1974 19.7 18.9
1973 19.7 18.8
1972 19.7 18.8
1971 19.7 18.8
1970 19.7 18.8
1969 19.7 18.8
1968 19.7 18.8
1967 19.7 18.8
1966 19.6 18.8
1965 19.6 18.8
1964 19.6 18.9
1963 19.6 18.9
1962 19.6 18.9
1961 19.5 19
1960 19.5 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Nepal South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$43.7B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.69%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.98%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
112,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.76%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
10.7%
2017
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
55.2%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
11.4%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
52.9
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.2%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
2
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.5B
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$11.3B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
230,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
13.4%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
60%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Nepal South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
520 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$9.81
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
15.9 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.54 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
26.5%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
73.7%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
6.78%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
27.4%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
321 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
83.8%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
94%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Nepal South Africa
% of world population
0.36%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-364,699
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
66.8%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
47.9:52.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.39 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
34.5
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
42
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.1
2020
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
16.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
71.2%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
3%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
55.8%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Nepal South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$84
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$49.9
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
71.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.95%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.01
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.4 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
142
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
26.5
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
7.18%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
4
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
28.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.06 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Nepal South Africa
% of world land
0.1%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,867 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
14,456 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,020 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
49,758 mi
2025
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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