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Palestine vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Palestine has a population of 5.29M (ranked 122/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Palestine's land area is 2,326 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 164th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Palestine ranks 146/197 ($13.7B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Palestine ranks 147/197 ($2,592), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Palestine South Africa
Population
5500288
65683993
Population rank 123/197 24/197
GDP
$13.7B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 146/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$2,592
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 147/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,371
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt n/a
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
76%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,862
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 2,326 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
2,352 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.31
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
20.9 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
77.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Palestine and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Palestine and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Palestine South Africa
2024 $13,711,100,000 $401,144,998,374
2023 $17,847,900,000 $381,440,724,491
2022 $19,165,500,000 $407,596,043,068
2021 $18,109,000,000 $419,986,284,375
2020 $15,531,700,000 $337,974,655,408
2019 $17,133,500,000 $389,330,032,224
2018 $16,276,600,000 $405,260,723,893
2017 $16,128,000,000 $381,448,814,653
2016 $15,405,400,000 $323,585,509,674
2015 $13,972,400,000 $346,709,790,459
2014 $13,989,700,000 $381,198,869,776
2013 $13,515,500,000 $400,886,013,596
2012 $12,208,400,000 $434,400,545,086
2011 $11,186,100,000 $458,199,494,831
2010 $9,681,500,000 $417,363,822,802
2009 $8,085,700,000 $329,754,060,647
2008 $7,310,400,000 $316,131,258,616
2007 $5,815,700,000 $333,077,117,254
2006 $5,348,300,000 $303,858,675,364
2005 $5,125,700,000 $288,867,217,197
2004 $4,603,100,000 $255,806,908,595
2003 $3,968,000,000 $197,018,965,309
2002 $3,555,800,000 $129,087,556,612
2001 $4,003,700,000 $135,429,905,923
2000 $4,313,600,000 $151,752,757,215
1999 $4,271,200,000 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,067,800,000 $152,982,984,557
1997 $3,759,800,000 $168,978,057,328
1996 $3,409,600,000 $163,234,925,381
1995 $3,282,800,000 $171,735,933,897
1994 $2,843,300,000 $153,512,712,382
1993 - $147,194,747,566
1992 - $146,956,150,987
1991 - $135,203,698,238
1990 - $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/palestine/south-africa | CC BY

Palestine and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Palestine South Africa
2024 $2,592 $6,267
2023 $3,455 $6,034
2022 $3,800 $6,534
2021 $3,679 $6,829
2020 $3,234 $5,581
2019 $3,657 $6,534
2018 $3,562 $6,914
2017 $3,620 $6,618
2016 $3,528 $5,651
2015 $3,272 $6,112
2014 $3,352 $6,857
2013 $3,315 $7,332
2012 $3,067 $8,077
2011 $2,881 $8,646
2010 $2,557 $7,973
2009 $2,192 $6,375
2008 $2,035 $6,185
2007 $1,664 $6,592
2006 $1,570 $6,077
2005 $1,544 $5,837
2004 $1,422 $5,221
2003 $1,258 $4,062
2002 $1,156 $2,688
2001 $1,336 $2,847
2000 $1,476 $3,218
1999 $1,499 $3,242
1998 $1,465 $3,310
1997 $1,389 $3,700
1996 $1,317 $3,618
1995 $1,327 $3,856
1994 $1,202 $3,489
1993 - $3,400
1992 - $3,462
1991 - $3,243
1990 - $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/palestine/south-africa | CC BY

Palestine vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Palestine South Africa
2026 77.4 66.7
2025 73.1 66.5
2024 69.2 66.3
2023 65.2 66.1
2022 76.7 65.5
2021 73.9 62
2020 75 65.2
2019 75.8 66.1
2018 75.4 65.7
2017 75.2 65.4
2016 74.9 64.7
2015 74.6 64.1
2014 72.8 63.2
2013 74.1 62.4
2012 73.7 61.7
2011 73.6 60.6
2010 73.3 58.9
2009 72.3 57.4
2008 72.2 56
2007 72.1 54.9
2006 71.8 54.2
2005 72 53.9
2004 71.1 54
2003 71 54.2
2002 70.9 55.6
2001 69.8 57.2
2000 70.3 58.4
1999 70.8 59.2
1998 70.6 59.9
1997 70.3 60.5
1996 70 61.1
1995 69.6 61.6
1994 69.3 62.1
1993 68.8 62.6
1992 68.5 62.8
1991 68.2 63
1990 67.8 62.9
1989 67.1 63
1988 66.7 62.9
1987 66.3 62.7
1986 65.7 62.4
1985 65.3 62.2
1984 64.7 61.8
1983 64.1 61.4
1982 63.5 60.9
1981 62.8 60.4
1980 62.2 60
1979 61.5 59.5
1978 60.8 59
1977 60.1 58.5
1976 59.4 58
1975 58.7 57.6
1974 58 57.1
1973 57.6 56.7
1972 56.7 56.4
1971 56 56
1970 55.4 55.7
1969 54.7 55.4
1968 54.1 55.2
1967 50.9 55
1966 52.8 54.7
1965 52.2 54.4
1964 51.6 54.2
1963 51 53.9
1962 50.4 53.6
1961 49.8 53.1
1960 49.3 52.6
1959 48.8 51.9
1958 48.4 51.1
1957 48 50.2
1956 47.6 49.2
1955 47.2 48.2
1954 46.9 47.1
1953 46.6 46.1
1952 46.3 45
1951 46 44.1
1950 45.7 43.1

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

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

Palestine and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Palestine South Africa
2024 5,289,152 64,007,187
2023 5,165,775 63,212,384
2022 5,043,612 62,378,410
2021 4,922,749 61,502,603
2020 4,803,269 60,562,381
2019 4,685,306 59,587,885
2018 4,569,087 58,613,001
2017 4,454,805 57,635,162
2016 4,367,088 57,259,551
2015 4,270,092 56,723,537
2014 4,173,398 55,594,838
2013 4,076,708 54,678,791
2012 3,979,998 53,782,567
2011 3,882,986 52,995,205
2010 3,786,161 52,344,051
2009 3,689,099 51,728,516
2008 3,591,977 51,114,599
2007 3,494,496 50,528,584
2006 3,406,334 49,998,277
2005 3,320,396 49,490,033
2004 3,236,626 48,991,421
2003 3,154,969 48,500,348
2002 3,075,373 48,019,415
2001 2,997,784 47,566,800
2000 2,922,153 47,159,719
1999 2,848,431 46,730,335
1998 2,776,568 46,223,880
1997 2,706,518 45,666,838
1996 2,587,997 45,123,018
1995 2,474,666 44,541,554
1994 2,366,298 44,004,139
1993 2,262,676 43,297,156
1992 2,163,591 42,443,509
1991 2,068,845 41,687,898
1990 1,978,248 40,746,268
1989 - 39,628,575
1988 - 38,480,649
1987 - 37,326,190
1986 - 36,180,515
1985 - 35,042,093
1984 - 33,892,788
1983 - 32,739,304
1982 - 31,615,339
1981 - 30,541,044
1980 - 29,518,857
1979 - 28,634,162
1978 - 27,869,507
1977 - 27,118,952
1976 - 26,395,450
1975 - 25,690,940
1974 - 24,989,108
1973 - 24,294,263
1972 - 23,609,456
1971 - 22,942,143
1970 - 22,279,984
1969 - 21,614,676
1968 - 20,957,287
1967 - 20,314,066
1966 - 19,690,087
1965 - 19,089,380
1964 - 18,511,361
1963 - 17,954,564
1962 - 17,418,522
1961 - 16,908,035
1960 - 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Palestine and South Africa

Fertility rate
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Palestine South Africa
2023 3.31 2.22
2022 3.38 2.23
2021 3.44 2.25
2020 3.51 2.26
2019 3.59 2.26
2018 3.67 2.27
2017 3.77 2.28
2016 3.89 2.26
2015 3.98 2.36
2014 4 2.42
2013 4.05 2.43
2012 4.15 2.45
2011 4.31 2.44
2010 4.43 2.44
2009 4.44 2.5
2008 4.51 2.68
2007 4.63 2.55
2006 4.74 2.55
2005 4.87 2.51
2004 4.97 2.44
2003 5.06 2.36
2002 5.22 2.32
2001 5.34 2.37
2000 5.46 2.41
1999 5.58 2.56
1998 5.69 2.63
1997 5.82 2.73
1996 5.99 2.99
1995 6.16 3.17
1994 6.33 3.26
1993 6.5 3.37
1992 6.65 3.48
1991 6.75 3.62
1990 6.81 3.72
1989 - 3.98
1988 - 4.18
1987 - 4.35
1986 - 4.41
1985 - 4.5
1984 - 4.57
1983 - 4.63
1982 - 4.7
1981 - 4.71
1980 - 4.78
1979 - 4.82
1978 - 4.85
1977 - 4.94
1976 - 5.07
1975 - 5.19
1974 - 5.3
1973 - 5.41
1972 - 5.49
1971 - 5.57
1970 - 5.63
1969 - 5.72
1968 - 5.78
1967 - 5.85
1966 - 5.91
1965 - 5.89
1964 - 5.96
1963 - 6.01
1962 - 6.05
1961 - 6.08
1960 - 6.11

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

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

Palestine and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Palestine

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Palestine South Africa
2024 20.9 29.5
2023 20.8 29.2
2022 20.6 28.9
2021 20.4 28.6
2020 20.3 28.3
2019 20.2 27.9
2018 20 27.5
2017 19.9 27
2016 19.8 26.7
2015 19.6 26.4
2014 19.4 26
2013 19.1 25.7
2012 18.9 25.3
2011 18.6 25
2010 18.4 24.6
2009 18.1 24.3
2008 17.9 24
2007 17.6 23.8
2006 17.4 23.5
2005 17.1 23.3
2004 16.9 23.1
2003 16.7 22.8
2002 16.5 22.4
2001 16.3 22.2
2000 16.2 21.9
1999 16 21.6
1998 15.9 21.4
1997 15.8 21.2
1996 15.7 21.2
1995 15.6 21.5
1994 15.5 22
1993 15.5 21.9
1992 15.4 21.5
1991 15.4 21.5
1990 15.4 21.3
1989 - 21.1
1988 - 20.9
1987 - 20.7
1986 - 20.5
1985 - 20.4
1984 - 20.2
1983 - 20
1982 - 19.8
1981 - 19.6
1980 - 19.4
1979 - 19.3
1978 - 19.2
1977 - 19.1
1976 - 19
1975 - 18.9
1974 - 18.9
1973 - 18.8
1972 - 18.8
1971 - 18.8
1970 - 18.8
1969 - 18.8
1968 - 18.8
1967 - 18.8
1966 - 18.8
1965 - 18.8
1964 - 18.9
1963 - 18.9
1962 - 18.9
1961 - 19
1960 - 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Palestine South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$14.3B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20%
2025
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.43%
2021
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
31.4%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
58.5%
2023
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
15.6%
2023
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
30
2025
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
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
48
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.08B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.33B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$736M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
93,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
9.43%
2018
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
39.6%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Palestine 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 n/a
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita n/a
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
15.4%
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
24.5%
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

Palestine South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-23,156
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
87.1%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.6:50.4
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.74 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
35.4
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
18
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
49
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.41
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.3
2016
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
47
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.9%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
20%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
86.6%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Palestine South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$346
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$145.4
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
77.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
8.65%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.17
2018
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
26.3
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
38.5%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
15.5%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
45
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita n/a
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Palestine South Africa
% of world land
0.004%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
440 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
1,510 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
39.2 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) (2000–2019, 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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

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