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Papua New Guinea vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Papua New Guinea has a population of 10.6M (ranked 92/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Papua New Guinea's land area is 174,850 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 54th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Papua New Guinea ranks 110/197 ($31.8B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Papua New Guinea ranks 140/197 ($3,007), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Papua New Guinea South Africa
Population
11002753
65683993
Population rank 89/197 24/197
GDP
$31.8B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 110/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$3,007
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 140/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,875
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.1%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,566
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 129/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,362
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 174,850 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
62.6 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.1
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
23.6 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Papua New Guinea and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Papua New Guinea and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2024 $31,800,428,266 $401,144,998,374
2023 $30,816,367,067 $381,440,724,491
2022 $31,653,185,953 $407,596,043,068
2021 $26,109,413,521 $419,986,284,375
2020 $23,848,447,850 $337,974,655,408
2019 $24,750,626,030 $389,330,032,224
2018 $24,109,780,708 $405,260,723,893
2017 $22,742,699,138 $381,448,814,653
2016 $20,758,876,953 $323,585,509,674
2015 $21,723,437,010 $346,709,790,459
2014 $23,210,823,987 $381,198,869,776
2013 $21,261,338,065 $400,886,013,596
2012 $21,295,168,666 $434,400,545,086
2011 $17,985,138,066 $458,199,494,831
2010 $14,250,786,675 $417,363,822,802
2009 $11,619,456,449 $329,754,060,647
2008 $11,670,892,801 $316,131,258,616
2007 $9,545,028,944 $333,077,117,254
2006 $8,354,911,041 $303,858,675,364
2005 $4,865,892,972 $288,867,217,197
2004 $3,927,157,867 $255,806,908,595
2003 $3,536,411,824 $197,018,965,309
2002 $2,999,511,040 $129,087,556,612
2001 $3,081,024,212 $135,429,905,923
2000 $3,521,339,699 $151,752,757,215
1999 $3,477,038,204 $151,516,957,079
1998 $3,789,443,015 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,936,615,299 $168,978,057,328
1996 $5,155,311,077 $163,234,925,381
1995 $4,636,057,476 $171,735,933,897
1994 $5,502,786,070 $153,512,712,382
1993 $4,974,550,286 $147,194,747,566
1992 $4,377,980,510 $146,956,150,987
1991 $3,787,394,958 $135,203,698,238
1990 $3,219,729,083 $126,048,140,142
1989 $3,546,472,566 $108,055,624,082
1988 $3,656,177,881 $103,976,831,871
1987 $3,143,851,794 $96,535,763,418
1986 $2,647,995,602 $73,354,771,399
1985 $2,423,339,172 $64,459,376,087
1984 $2,552,662,617 $84,870,163,366
1983 $2,562,351,551 $96,204,110,942
1982 $2,368,719,683 $85,904,057,409
1981 $2,498,190,847 $93,141,472,164
1980 $2,545,808,456 $89,411,864,402
1979 $2,293,760,511 $63,038,658,089
1978 $1,947,878,831 $51,607,412,902
1977 $1,640,746,619 $45,328,411,332
1976 $1,511,843,235 $41,150,460,288
1975 $1,356,603,608 $42,906,905,672
1974 $1,467,417,672 $41,389,186,095
1973 $1,299,079,410 $33,262,772,008
1972 $858,761,926 $24,515,919,217
1971 $717,750,278 $23,411,076,638
1970 $645,568,215 $21,218,391,513
1969 $551,263,864 $19,256,992,297
1968 $485,184,190 $17,124,793,150
1967 $441,728,183 $15,821,393,671
1966 $390,992,063 $14,211,394,315
1965 $344,176,055 $13,068,994,772
1964 $305,312,049 $11,955,995,218
1963 $275,968,044 $10,854,195,658
1962 $261,184,042 $9,813,996,074
1961 $244,832,039 $9,225,996,310
1960 $230,496,037 $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2024 $3,007 $6,267
2023 $2,966 $6,034
2022 $3,102 $6,534
2021 $2,608 $6,829
2020 $2,430 $5,581
2019 $2,576 $6,534
2018 $2,566 $6,914
2017 $2,478 $6,618
2016 $2,316 $5,651
2015 $2,485 $6,112
2014 $2,723 $6,857
2013 $2,561 $7,332
2012 $2,635 $8,077
2011 $2,288 $8,646
2010 $1,867 $7,973
2009 $1,569 $6,375
2008 $1,625 $6,185
2007 $1,371 $6,592
2006 $1,238 $6,077
2005 $744 $5,837
2004 $621 $5,221
2003 $577 $4,062
2002 $506 $2,688
2001 $538 $2,847
2000 $636 $3,218
1999 $650 $3,242
1998 $733 $3,310
1997 $990 $3,700
1996 $1,071 $3,618
1995 $998 $3,856
1994 $1,228 $3,489
1993 $1,151 $3,400
1992 $1,051 $3,462
1991 $942 $3,243
1990 $826 $3,093
1989 $934 $2,727
1988 $985 $2,702
1987 $865 $2,586
1986 $745 $2,027
1985 $697 $1,839
1984 $750 $2,504
1983 $769 $2,938
1982 $726 $2,717
1981 $781 $3,050
1980 $813 $3,029
1979 $748 $2,202
1978 $648 $1,852
1977 $558 $1,671
1976 $525 $1,559
1975 $482 $1,670
1974 $533 $1,656
1973 $483 $1,369
1972 $327 $1,038
1971 $279.7 $1,020
1970 $257.6 $952
1969 $225.3 $891
1968 $202.9 $817
1967 $189 $779
1966 $171.1 $722
1965 $153.9 $685
1964 $139.5 $646
1963 $128.9 $605
1962 $124.7 $563
1961 $119.7 $546
1960 $115.5 $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Papua New Guinea vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2026 66.5 66.7
2025 66.4 66.5
2024 66.3 66.3
2023 66.1 66.1
2022 65.3 65.5
2021 64.4 62
2020 65.1 65.2
2019 65.3 66.1
2018 65.1 65.7
2017 64.9 65.4
2016 64.7 64.7
2015 64.5 64.1
2014 64.2 63.2
2013 63.9 62.4
2012 63.6 61.7
2011 63.4 60.6
2010 63.1 58.9
2009 62.8 57.4
2008 62.5 56
2007 62.2 54.9
2006 62 54.2
2005 61.9 53.9
2004 61.8 54
2003 61.7 54.2
2002 61.6 55.6
2001 61.6 57.2
2000 61.6 58.4
1999 61.5 59.2
1998 60.4 59.9
1997 61.3 60.5
1996 61.1 61.1
1995 60.9 61.6
1994 60.7 62.1
1993 60.5 62.6
1992 60.3 62.8
1991 59.9 63
1990 59.8 62.9
1989 59.6 63
1988 59.4 62.9
1987 59.2 62.7
1986 59 62.4
1985 58.8 62.2
1984 58.6 61.8
1983 58.3 61.4
1982 58.1 60.9
1981 57.8 60.4
1980 57.4 60
1979 57 59.5
1978 56.5 59
1977 56 58.5
1976 55.5 58
1975 55 57.6
1974 54.4 57.1
1973 53.9 56.7
1972 53.3 56.4
1971 52.6 56
1970 52.1 55.7
1969 51.5 55.4
1968 50.9 55.2
1967 50.2 55
1966 49.6 54.7
1965 48.9 54.4
1964 48.3 54.2
1963 47.7 53.9
1962 46.7 53.6
1961 46.4 53.1
1960 45.8 52.6
1959 45.1 51.9
1958 44.6 51.1
1957 43.9 50.2
1956 43.3 49.2
1955 42.6 48.2
1954 42 47.1
1953 41.3 46.1
1952 40.7 45
1951 35.5 44.1
1950 39.4 43.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2024 10,576,502 64,007,187
2023 10,389,635 63,212,384
2022 10,203,169 62,378,410
2021 10,012,896 61,502,603
2020 9,815,746 60,562,381
2019 9,609,010 59,587,885
2018 9,394,513 58,613,001
2017 9,178,714 57,635,162
2016 8,961,718 57,259,551
2015 8,743,246 56,723,537
2014 8,523,441 55,594,838
2013 8,302,698 54,678,791
2012 8,081,390 53,782,567
2011 7,859,346 52,995,205
2010 7,633,523 52,344,051
2009 7,406,438 51,728,516
2008 7,183,002 51,114,599
2007 6,963,345 50,528,584
2006 6,747,720 49,998,277
2005 6,535,905 49,490,033
2004 6,328,041 48,991,421
2003 6,123,997 48,500,348
2002 5,924,003 48,019,415
2001 5,728,435 47,566,800
2000 5,537,064 47,159,719
1999 5,349,333 46,730,335
1998 5,166,390 46,223,880
1997 4,987,883 45,666,838
1996 4,813,361 45,123,018
1995 4,644,278 44,541,554
1994 4,480,208 44,004,139
1993 4,320,872 43,297,156
1992 4,166,699 42,443,509
1991 4,021,837 41,687,898
1990 3,896,481 40,746,268
1989 3,796,078 39,628,575
1988 3,711,880 38,480,649
1987 3,632,543 37,326,190
1986 3,554,793 36,180,515
1985 3,478,936 35,042,093
1984 3,405,198 33,892,788
1983 3,333,633 32,739,304
1982 3,264,291 31,615,339
1981 3,197,019 30,541,044
1980 3,131,512 29,518,857
1979 3,067,341 28,634,162
1978 3,003,714 27,869,507
1977 2,940,327 27,118,952
1976 2,877,327 26,395,450
1975 2,814,820 25,690,940
1974 2,752,671 24,989,108
1973 2,690,629 24,294,263
1972 2,628,432 23,609,456
1971 2,566,421 22,942,143
1970 2,505,628 22,279,984
1969 2,446,927 21,614,676
1968 2,390,803 20,957,287
1967 2,337,532 20,314,066
1966 2,285,774 19,690,087
1965 2,235,820 19,089,380
1964 2,188,325 18,511,361
1963 2,141,376 17,954,564
1962 2,093,919 17,418,522
1961 2,046,127 16,908,035
1960 1,995,110 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Papua New Guinea and South Africa

Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2023 3.1 2.22
2022 3.17 2.23
2021 3.22 2.25
2020 3.27 2.26
2019 3.32 2.26
2018 3.38 2.27
2017 3.43 2.28
2016 3.5 2.26
2015 3.56 2.36
2014 3.63 2.42
2013 3.68 2.43
2012 3.75 2.45
2011 3.82 2.44
2010 3.88 2.44
2009 3.94 2.5
2008 4.01 2.68
2007 4.08 2.55
2006 4.15 2.55
2005 4.22 2.51
2004 4.28 2.44
2003 4.36 2.36
2002 4.42 2.32
2001 4.47 2.37
2000 4.53 2.41
1999 4.59 2.56
1998 4.63 2.63
1997 4.68 2.73
1996 4.73 2.99
1995 4.78 3.17
1994 4.87 3.26
1993 4.96 3.37
1992 5.03 3.48
1991 5.11 3.62
1990 5.18 3.72
1989 5.24 3.98
1988 5.3 4.18
1987 5.36 4.35
1986 5.42 4.41
1985 5.47 4.5
1984 5.51 4.57
1983 5.56 4.63
1982 5.59 4.7
1981 5.65 4.71
1980 5.71 4.78
1979 5.79 4.82
1978 5.88 4.85
1977 5.96 4.94
1976 6.02 5.07
1975 6.07 5.19
1974 6.11 5.3
1973 6.16 5.41
1972 6.2 5.49
1971 6.23 5.57
1970 6.25 5.63
1969 6.26 5.72
1968 6.25 5.78
1967 6.24 5.85
1966 6.23 5.91
1965 6.2 5.89
1964 6.19 5.96
1963 6.15 6.01
1962 6.14 6.05
1961 6.07 6.08
1960 6.02 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Papua New Guinea

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Papua New Guinea South Africa
2024 23.6 29.5
2023 23.4 29.2
2022 23.2 28.9
2021 23 28.6
2020 22.8 28.3
2019 22.6 27.9
2018 22.4 27.5
2017 22.2 27
2016 22 26.7
2015 21.9 26.4
2014 21.7 26
2013 21.5 25.7
2012 21.3 25.3
2011 21.2 25
2010 21 24.6
2009 20.9 24.3
2008 20.7 24
2007 20.6 23.8
2006 20.4 23.5
2005 20.3 23.3
2004 20.2 23.1
2003 20 22.8
2002 19.9 22.4
2001 19.9 22.2
2000 19.8 21.9
1999 19.7 21.6
1998 19.6 21.4
1997 19.5 21.2
1996 19.4 21.2
1995 19.2 21.5
1994 19.1 22
1993 19 21.9
1992 18.9 21.5
1991 18.8 21.5
1990 18.7 21.3
1989 18.6 21.1
1988 18.6 20.9
1987 18.5 20.7
1986 18.5 20.5
1985 18.4 20.4
1984 18.3 20.2
1983 18.3 20
1982 18.2 19.8
1981 18.1 19.6
1980 18 19.4
1979 17.8 19.3
1978 17.7 19.2
1977 17.5 19.1
1976 17.4 19
1975 17.3 18.9
1974 17.2 18.9
1973 17.2 18.8
1972 17.1 18.8
1971 17.2 18.8
1970 17.3 18.8
1969 17.4 18.8
1968 17.5 18.8
1967 17.6 18.8
1966 17.8 18.8
1965 17.9 18.8
1964 18 18.9
1963 18.1 18.9
1962 18.3 18.9
1961 18.4 19
1960 18.5 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Papua New Guinea South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$30.7B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.78%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.31%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
4,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.23%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.69%
2022
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
41.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37.2%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.3
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2009
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2009
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
6
2016
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.68B
2017
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.9B
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$3.87M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
39,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.04%
2018
2.89%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.1%
2024

Energy

Papua New Guinea 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
5.47 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.52 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
54.6%
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
40%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
35.3%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
20.5%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Papua New Guinea South Africa
% of world population
0.13%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-284
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
15.4%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.4:48.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.35 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.15 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
37.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
26
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
30
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.4
2010
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12.6
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
86
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
87.1%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
70.4%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
24.1%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Papua New Guinea South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$85.2
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$7.28
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
18.2%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.06
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
189
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
40.3
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
21.2%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
14.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
91
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
39.6%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.13 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Papua New Guinea South Africa
% of world land
0.3%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
16,532 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,425 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
138,051 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,809 mi
2011
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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