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Netherlands vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has a population of 18M (ranked 72/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). The Netherlands' land area is 13,000 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 134th vs. 24th).

By GDP, The Netherlands ranks 19/197 ($1.21T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, The Netherlands ranks 13/197 ($67,520), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Netherlands South Africa
Population
18252623
65683993
Population rank 72/197 24/197
GDP
$1.21T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 19/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$67,520
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 13/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$86,174
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$532B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.8%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$29,571
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 24/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,815
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 13,000 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
1,402 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.43
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
42.4 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Netherlands and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Netherlands and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Netherlands South Africa
2024 $1,214,927,698,573 $401,144,998,374
2023 $1,135,475,867,551 $381,440,724,491
2022 $1,046,540,797,549 $407,596,043,068
2021 $1,054,472,123,450 $419,986,284,375
2020 $932,560,861,701 $337,974,655,408
2019 $928,903,005,576 $389,330,032,224
2018 $929,733,599,797 $405,260,723,893
2017 $848,233,537,846 $381,448,814,653
2016 $797,163,949,290 $323,585,509,674
2015 $775,743,675,303 $346,709,790,459
2014 $901,556,501,756 $381,198,869,776
2013 $883,951,539,007 $400,886,013,596
2012 $845,689,017,066 $434,400,545,086
2011 $913,140,741,333 $458,199,494,831
2010 $852,464,982,433 $417,363,822,802
2009 $878,954,223,140 $329,754,060,647
2008 $957,901,566,041 $316,131,258,616
2007 $853,499,460,873 $333,077,117,254
2006 $737,593,995,289 $303,858,675,364
2005 $688,133,699,636 $288,867,217,197
2004 $661,224,886,143 $255,806,908,595
2003 $582,435,617,082 $197,018,965,309
2002 $475,529,972,123 $129,087,556,612
2001 $432,536,219,669 $135,429,905,923
2000 $417,649,282,154 $151,752,757,215
1999 $447,778,514,140 $151,516,957,079
1998 $438,612,530,549 $152,982,984,557
1997 $417,506,211,882 $168,978,057,328
1996 $451,372,549,020 $163,234,925,381
1995 $452,967,334,614 $171,735,933,897
1994 $379,688,232,232 $153,512,712,382
1993 $354,070,495,966 $147,194,747,566
1992 $363,497,050,125 $146,956,150,987
1991 $327,982,316,124 $135,203,698,238
1990 $318,799,003,994 $126,048,140,142
1989 $258,716,904,292 $108,055,624,082
1988 $262,295,966,105 $103,976,831,871
1987 $245,406,949,521 $96,535,763,418
1986 $201,157,708,221 $73,354,771,399
1985 $144,057,523,222 $64,459,376,087
1984 $144,124,462,912 $84,870,163,366
1983 $153,671,294,109 $96,204,110,942
1982 $158,712,765,536 $85,904,057,409
1981 $164,375,775,854 $93,141,472,164
1980 $195,439,301,707 $89,411,864,402
1979 $179,933,827,310 $63,038,658,089
1978 $156,089,077,205 $51,607,412,902
1977 $127,203,923,857 $45,328,411,332
1976 $109,329,386,564 $41,150,460,288
1975 $100,397,061,694 $42,906,905,672
1974 $87,371,810,804 $41,389,186,095
1973 $71,946,639,603 $33,262,772,008
1972 $54,787,070,173 $24,515,919,217
1971 $44,644,730,576 $23,411,076,638
1970 $38,220,884,519 $21,218,391,513
1969 $34,086,038,090 $19,256,992,297
1968 $30,097,635,751 $17,124,793,150
1967 $27,143,828,099 $15,821,393,671
1966 $24,741,480,717 $14,211,394,315
1965 $22,721,869,808 $13,068,994,772
1964 $20,232,048,553 $11,955,995,218
1963 $17,193,744,109 $10,854,195,658
1962 $15,847,582,341 $9,813,996,074
1961 $14,599,836,396 $9,225,996,310
1960 $13,282,979,015 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Netherlands and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Netherlands South Africa
2024 $67,520 $6,267
2023 $63,516 $6,034
2022 $59,123 $6,534
2021 $60,142 $6,829
2020 $53,468 $5,581
2019 $53,555 $6,534
2018 $53,955 $6,914
2017 $49,514 $6,618
2016 $46,809 $5,651
2015 $45,794 $6,112
2014 $53,457 $6,857
2013 $52,602 $7,332
2012 $50,474 $8,077
2011 $54,702 $8,646
2010 $51,306 $7,973
2009 $53,172 $6,375
2008 $58,247 $6,185
2007 $52,101 $6,592
2006 $45,124 $6,077
2005 $42,165 $5,837
2004 $40,611 $5,221
2003 $35,897 $4,062
2002 $29,447 $2,688
2001 $26,956 $2,847
2000 $26,225 $3,218
1999 $28,319 $3,242
1998 $27,924 $3,310
1997 $26,745 $3,700
1996 $29,064 $3,618
1995 $29,301 $3,856
1994 $24,683 $3,489
1993 $23,156 $3,400
1992 $23,939 $3,462
1991 $21,764 $3,243
1990 $21,322 $3,093
1989 $17,423 $2,727
1988 $17,771 $2,702
1987 $16,734 $2,586
1986 $13,804 $2,027
1985 $9,941 $1,839
1984 $9,992 $2,504
1983 $10,696 $2,938
1982 $11,089 $2,717
1981 $11,537 $3,050
1980 $13,812 $3,029
1979 $12,817 $2,202
1978 $11,196 $1,852
1977 $9,180 $1,671
1976 $7,937 $1,559
1975 $7,346 $1,670
1974 $6,450 $1,656
1973 $5,353 $1,369
1972 $4,110 $1,038
1971 $3,384 $1,020
1970 $2,931 $952
1969 $2,647 $891
1968 $2,364 $817
1967 $2,155 $779
1966 $1,986 $722
1965 $1,848 $685
1964 $1,668 $646
1963 $1,437 $605
1962 $1,342 $563
1961 $1,254 $546
1960 $1,156 $532

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

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

Netherlands vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Netherlands South Africa
2026 82.6 66.7
2025 82.4 66.5
2024 82.3 66.3
2023 82.2 66.1
2022 81.9 65.5
2021 81.4 62
2020 81.4 65.2
2019 82.1 66.1
2018 81.8 65.7
2017 81.7 65.4
2016 81.6 64.7
2015 81.5 64.1
2014 81.7 63.2
2013 81.3 62.4
2012 81.1 61.7
2011 81.1 60.6
2010 80.8 58.9
2009 80.7 57.4
2008 80.4 56
2007 80.3 54.9
2006 79.8 54.2
2005 79.5 53.9
2004 79.2 54
2003 78.7 54.2
2002 78.4 55.6
2001 78.3 57.2
2000 78.1 58.4
1999 78 59.2
1998 78 59.9
1997 77.9 60.5
1996 77.6 61.1
1995 77.6 61.6
1994 77.5 62.1
1993 77 62.6
1992 77.4 62.8
1991 77.2 63
1990 77 62.9
1989 76.8 63
1988 77 62.9
1987 76.8 62.7
1986 76.4 62.4
1985 76.4 62.2
1984 76.3 61.8
1983 76.3 61.4
1982 76.1 60.9
1981 76 60.4
1980 75.8 60
1979 75.6 59.5
1978 75.2 59
1977 75.3 58.5
1976 74.7 58
1975 74.6 57.6
1974 74.6 57.1
1973 74.2 56.7
1972 73.8 56.4
1971 73.9 56
1970 73.6 55.7
1969 73.6 55.4
1968 73.6 55.2
1967 73.8 55
1966 73.6 54.7
1965 73.6 54.4
1964 73.7 54.2
1963 73.4 53.9
1962 73.2 53.6
1961 73.6 53.1
1960 73.4 52.6
1959 73.2 51.9
1958 73.1 51.1
1957 73 50.2
1956 72.5 49.2
1955 72.5 48.2
1954 72.4 47.1
1953 71.7 46.1
1952 72.1 45
1951 71.5 44.1
1950 71.4 43.1

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

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

Netherlands and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Netherlands South Africa
2024 17,993,485 64,007,187
2023 17,877,117 63,212,384
2022 17,700,982 62,378,410
2021 17,533,044 61,502,603
2020 17,441,500 60,562,381
2019 17,344,874 59,587,885
2018 17,231,624 58,613,001
2017 17,131,296 57,635,162
2016 17,030,314 57,259,551
2015 16,939,923 56,723,537
2014 16,865,008 55,594,838
2013 16,804,432 54,678,791
2012 16,754,962 53,782,567
2011 16,693,074 52,995,205
2010 16,615,394 52,344,051
2009 16,530,388 51,728,516
2008 16,445,593 51,114,599
2007 16,381,696 50,528,584
2006 16,346,101 49,998,277
2005 16,319,868 49,490,033
2004 16,281,779 48,991,421
2003 16,225,302 48,500,348
2002 16,148,929 48,019,415
2001 16,046,180 47,566,800
2000 15,925,513 47,159,719
1999 15,812,088 46,730,335
1998 15,707,209 46,223,880
1997 15,610,650 45,666,838
1996 15,530,498 45,123,018
1995 15,459,006 44,541,554
1994 15,382,838 44,004,139
1993 15,290,368 43,297,156
1992 15,184,166 42,443,509
1991 15,069,798 41,687,898
1990 14,951,510 40,746,268
1989 14,848,907 39,628,575
1988 14,760,094 38,480,649
1987 14,665,037 37,326,190
1986 14,572,278 36,180,515
1985 14,491,632 35,042,093
1984 14,424,211 33,892,788
1983 14,367,070 32,739,304
1982 14,312,690 31,615,339
1981 14,247,208 30,541,044
1980 14,149,800 29,518,857
1979 14,038,270 28,634,162
1978 13,941,700 27,869,507
1977 13,856,185 27,118,952
1976 13,774,037 26,395,450
1975 13,666,335 25,690,940
1974 13,545,056 24,989,108
1973 13,439,322 24,294,263
1972 13,328,593 23,609,456
1971 13,194,497 22,942,143
1970 13,038,526 22,279,984
1969 12,877,984 21,614,676
1968 12,729,721 20,957,287
1967 12,598,201 20,314,066
1966 12,456,251 19,690,087
1965 12,294,732 19,089,380
1964 12,127,120 18,511,361
1963 11,965,966 17,954,564
1962 11,805,689 17,418,522
1961 11,638,712 16,908,035
1960 11,486,631 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Netherlands and South Africa

Fertility rate
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands South Africa
2023 1.43 2.22
2022 1.49 2.23
2021 1.62 2.25
2020 1.54 2.26
2019 1.57 2.26
2018 1.59 2.27
2017 1.62 2.28
2016 1.66 2.26
2015 1.66 2.36
2014 1.71 2.42
2013 1.68 2.43
2012 1.72 2.45
2011 1.76 2.44
2010 1.79 2.44
2009 1.79 2.5
2008 1.77 2.68
2007 1.72 2.55
2006 1.72 2.55
2005 1.71 2.51
2004 1.72 2.44
2003 1.75 2.36
2002 1.73 2.32
2001 1.71 2.37
2000 1.72 2.41
1999 1.65 2.56
1998 1.63 2.63
1997 1.56 2.73
1996 1.53 2.99
1995 1.53 3.17
1994 1.57 3.26
1993 1.57 3.37
1992 1.59 3.48
1991 1.61 3.62
1990 1.62 3.72
1989 1.55 3.98
1988 1.55 4.18
1987 1.56 4.35
1986 1.55 4.41
1985 1.51 4.5
1984 1.49 4.57
1983 1.47 4.63
1982 1.5 4.7
1981 1.56 4.71
1980 1.6 4.78
1979 1.56 4.82
1978 1.58 4.85
1977 1.58 4.94
1976 1.63 5.07
1975 1.66 5.19
1974 1.77 5.3
1973 1.9 5.41
1972 2.15 5.49
1971 2.36 5.57
1970 2.57 5.63
1969 2.75 5.72
1968 2.72 5.78
1967 2.81 5.85
1966 2.9 5.91
1965 3.04 5.89
1964 3.17 5.96
1963 3.19 6.01
1962 3.18 6.05
1961 3.22 6.08
1960 3.12 6.11

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

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

Netherlands and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Netherlands

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Netherlands South Africa
2024 42.4 29.5
2023 42.4 29.2
2022 42.5 28.9
2021 42.6 28.6
2020 42.5 28.3
2019 42.5 27.9
2018 42.4 27.5
2017 42.3 27
2016 42.2 26.7
2015 42 26.4
2014 41.8 26
2013 41.6 25.7
2012 41.3 25.3
2011 41 25
2010 40.7 24.6
2009 40.3 24.3
2008 40 24
2007 39.7 23.8
2006 39.3 23.5
2005 38.9 23.3
2004 38.5 23.1
2003 38.1 22.8
2002 37.8 22.4
2001 37.5 22.2
2000 37.3 21.9
1999 37 21.6
1998 36.7 21.4
1997 36.4 21.2
1996 36.1 21.2
1995 35.7 21.5
1994 35.4 22
1993 35.1 21.9
1992 34.8 21.5
1991 34.6 21.5
1990 34.3 21.3
1989 34.1 21.1
1988 33.8 20.9
1987 33.5 20.7
1986 33.2 20.5
1985 32.9 20.4
1984 32.6 20.2
1983 32.3 20
1982 31.9 19.8
1981 31.6 19.6
1980 31.3 19.4
1979 31 19.3
1978 30.7 19.2
1977 30.3 19.1
1976 29.8 19
1975 29.4 18.9
1974 29.3 18.9
1973 29 18.8
1972 28.9 18.8
1971 28.7 18.8
1970 28.6 18.8
1969 28.6 18.8
1968 28.6 18.8
1967 28.5 18.8
1966 28.6 18.8
1965 28.6 18.8
1964 28.6 18.9
1963 28.7 18.9
1962 28.7 18.9
1961 28.8 19
1960 28.8 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Netherlands South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$1.12T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.18%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.92%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
41,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.94%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
70.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.5%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
78.5
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.4%
2021
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2021
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
1,267,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
8.87%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
13
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00009%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
103
2018
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.1T
2017
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$79.1B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$4.72B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
7,265,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.44%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
99.2%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Netherlands South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,418 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$23.9
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
118.8 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.6 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
83.5%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
12.2%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.01%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
87%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,189 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
33.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.06%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
3.28%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Netherlands South Africa
% of world population
0.22%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+104,681
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
95.6%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
6.03 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.59 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.4
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
78
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
96
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.69
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
91.2%
2024
English speaking
90.9%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
97%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Netherlands South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,845
2024
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$807
2024
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.4 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
15%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
76
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
21.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
8.71 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Netherlands South Africa
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
722 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,961 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,437 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
88,123 mi
2022
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) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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