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Qatar vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Qatar has a population of 2.86M (ranked 138/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Qatar's land area is 4,436 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 158th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Qatar ranks 56/197 ($219B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Qatar ranks 11/197 ($76,689), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Qatar South Africa
Population
2999260
65683993
Population rank 136/197 24/197
GDP
$219B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 56/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$76,689
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 11/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$126,046
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$90.2B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
41.2%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$31,579
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 23/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,660
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 4,436 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
673 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.73
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
34.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Qatar and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Qatar and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Qatar South Africa
2024 $219,162,637,363 $401,144,998,374
2023 $217,308,516,484 $381,440,724,491
2022 $235,709,340,659 $407,596,043,068
2021 $179,732,142,857 $419,986,284,375
2020 $144,411,538,462 $337,974,655,408
2019 $176,371,428,571 $389,330,032,224
2018 $183,335,164,835 $405,260,723,893
2017 $161,099,175,824 $381,448,814,653
2016 $151,732,142,857 $323,585,509,674
2015 $161,739,835,165 $346,709,790,459
2014 $206,224,725,275 $381,198,869,776
2013 $198,727,747,253 $400,886,013,596
2012 $186,833,516,484 $434,400,545,086
2011 $167,775,274,725 $458,199,494,831
2010 $123,627,197,802 $417,363,822,802
2009 $97,798,351,648 $329,754,060,647
2008 $115,270,054,945 $316,131,258,616
2007 $79,712,087,912 $333,077,117,254
2006 $60,882,142,857 $303,858,675,364
2005 $44,530,494,505 $288,867,217,197
2004 $31,734,065,934 $255,806,908,595
2003 $23,533,791,209 $197,018,965,309
2002 $19,363,736,264 $129,087,556,612
2001 $17,538,461,538 $135,429,905,923
2000 $17,759,890,110 $151,752,757,215
1999 $12,393,131,868 $151,516,957,079
1998 $10,255,495,027 $152,982,984,557
1997 $11,297,802,115 $168,978,057,328
1996 $9,059,340,385 $163,234,925,381
1995 $8,137,911,978 $171,735,933,897
1994 $7,374,450,769 $153,512,712,382
1993 $7,156,593,654 $147,194,747,566
1992 $7,646,153,984 $146,956,150,987
1991 $6,883,516,484 $135,203,698,238
1990 $7,360,439,423 $126,048,140,142
1989 $6,487,912,088 $108,055,624,082
1988 $6,038,187,033 $103,976,831,871
1987 $5,446,428,681 $96,535,763,418
1986 $5,053,021,951 $73,354,771,399
1985 $6,153,296,456 $64,459,376,087
1984 $6,704,395,824 $84,870,163,366
1983 $6,467,582,308 $96,204,110,942
1982 $7,596,703,214 $85,904,057,409
1981 $8,661,263,764 $93,141,472,164
1980 $7,829,165,262 $89,411,864,402
1979 $5,632,962,997 $63,038,658,089
1978 $4,052,000,413 $51,607,412,902
1977 $3,617,564,638 $45,328,411,332
1976 $3,284,273,987 $41,150,460,288
1975 $2,512,773,166 $42,906,905,672
1974 $2,401,403,227 $41,389,186,095
1973 $793,885,560 $33,262,772,008
1972 $510,262,500 $24,515,919,217
1971 $387,703,106 $23,411,076,638
1970 $301,791,302 $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/qatar/south-africa | CC BY

Qatar and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Qatar South Africa
2024 $76,689 $6,267
2023 $81,817 $6,034
2022 $88,701 $6,534
2021 $71,752 $6,829
2020 $51,684 $5,581
2019 $66,841 $6,534
2018 $71,040 $6,914
2017 $63,280 $6,618
2016 $61,254 $5,651
2015 $68,985 $6,112
2014 $95,841 $6,857
2013 $103,697 $7,332
2012 $108,470 $8,077
2011 $103,262 $8,646
2010 $76,463 $7,973
2009 $60,786 $6,375
2008 $80,781 $6,185
2007 $65,954 $6,592
2006 $62,582 $6,077
2005 $53,950 $5,837
2004 $41,036 $5,221
2003 $31,602 $4,062
2002 $27,227 $2,688
2001 $25,871 $2,847
2000 $27,535 $3,218
1999 $20,234 $3,242
1998 $17,665 $3,310
1997 $20,523 $3,700
1996 $17,125 $3,618
1995 $15,823 $3,856
1994 $14,765 $3,489
1993 $14,770 $3,400
1992 $16,280 $3,462
1991 $15,133 $3,243
1990 $16,722 $3,093
1989 $15,243 $2,727
1988 $14,682 $2,702
1987 $13,719 $2,586
1986 $13,213 $2,027
1985 $16,815 $1,839
1984 $19,272 $2,504
1983 $19,616 $2,938
1982 $24,385 $2,717
1981 $29,505 $3,050
1980 $28,375 $3,029
1979 $21,777 $2,202
1978 $16,757 $1,852
1977 $16,058 $1,671
1976 $15,710 $1,559
1975 $13,014 $1,670
1974 $13,540 $1,656
1973 $4,905 $1,369
1972 $3,483 $1,038
1971 $2,952 $1,020
1970 $2,594 $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/qatar/south-africa | CC BY

Qatar vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Qatar South Africa
2026 82.8 66.7
2025 82.7 66.5
2024 82.5 66.3
2023 82.4 66.1
2022 81.9 65.5
2021 81.1 62
2020 80.4 65.2
2019 82.9 66.1
2018 82.7 65.7
2017 82.5 65.4
2016 82.1 64.7
2015 81.8 64.1
2014 81.4 63.2
2013 81 62.4
2012 80.5 61.7
2011 80 60.6
2010 79.4 58.9
2009 78.8 57.4
2008 78.3 56
2007 77.7 54.9
2006 77.3 54.2
2005 76.9 53.9
2004 76.5 54
2003 76.1 54.2
2002 75.8 55.6
2001 75.5 57.2
2000 75.3 58.4
1999 75 59.2
1998 74.9 59.9
1997 74.7 60.5
1996 74.6 61.1
1995 74.4 61.6
1994 74.2 62.1
1993 74.1 62.6
1992 73.9 62.8
1991 73.7 63
1990 73.4 62.9
1989 73.1 63
1988 72.8 62.9
1987 72.5 62.7
1986 72.2 62.4
1985 71.8 62.2
1984 71.5 61.8
1983 71.1 61.4
1982 70.7 60.9
1981 70.3 60.4
1980 69.9 60
1979 69.5 59.5
1978 69.1 59
1977 68.6 58.5
1976 68.2 58
1975 67.7 57.6
1974 67.2 57.1
1973 66.6 56.7
1972 66.1 56.4
1971 65.5 56
1970 64.9 55.7
1969 64.2 55.4
1968 63.6 55.2
1967 62.9 55
1966 62.2 54.7
1965 61.4 54.4
1964 60.7 54.2
1963 60 53.9
1962 59.2 53.6
1961 58.5 53.1
1960 57.8 52.6
1959 57 51.9
1958 56.3 51.1
1957 55.6 50.2
1956 54.9 49.2
1955 54.2 48.2
1954 53.5 47.1
1953 52.8 46.1
1952 52.1 45
1951 51.5 44.1
1950 50.8 43.1

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

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

Qatar and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Qatar South Africa
2024 2,857,822 64,007,187
2023 2,656,032 63,212,384
2022 2,657,333 62,378,410
2021 2,504,910 61,502,603
2020 2,794,148 60,562,381
2019 2,638,657 59,587,885
2018 2,580,734 58,613,001
2017 2,545,820 57,635,162
2016 2,477,113 57,259,551
2015 2,344,557 56,723,537
2014 2,151,745 55,594,838
2013 1,916,426 54,678,791
2012 1,722,438 53,782,567
2011 1,624,761 52,995,205
2010 1,616,832 52,344,051
2009 1,608,903 51,728,516
2008 1,426,938 51,114,599
2007 1,208,595 50,528,584
2006 972,831 49,998,277
2005 825,408 49,490,033
2004 773,332 48,991,421
2003 744,682 48,500,348
2002 711,205 48,019,415
2001 677,925 47,566,800
2000 644,989 47,159,719
1999 612,500 46,730,335
1998 580,540 46,223,880
1997 550,500 45,666,838
1996 529,019 45,123,018
1995 514,325 44,541,554
1994 499,459 44,004,139
1993 484,545 43,297,156
1992 469,657 42,443,509
1991 454,853 41,687,898
1990 440,175 40,746,268
1989 425,646 39,628,575
1988 411,264 38,480,649
1987 397,005 37,326,190
1986 382,422 36,180,515
1985 365,940 35,042,093
1984 347,878 33,892,788
1983 329,709 32,739,304
1982 311,537 31,615,339
1981 293,553 30,541,044
1980 275,913 29,518,857
1979 258,670 28,634,162
1978 241,808 27,869,507
1977 225,285 27,118,952
1976 209,052 26,395,450
1975 193,087 25,690,940
1974 177,362 24,989,108
1973 161,841 24,294,263
1972 146,506 23,609,456
1971 131,346 22,942,143
1970 116,350 22,279,984
1969 103,025 21,614,676
1968 91,749 20,957,287
1967 81,439 20,314,066
1966 72,192 19,690,087
1965 64,065 19,089,380
1964 56,867 18,511,361
1963 50,380 17,954,564
1962 44,630 17,418,522
1961 39,680 16,908,035
1960 36,010 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Qatar and South Africa

Fertility rate
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Qatar South Africa
2023 1.73 2.22
2022 1.74 2.23
2021 1.61 2.25
2020 1.68 2.26
2019 1.73 2.26
2018 1.76 2.27
2017 1.83 2.28
2016 1.86 2.26
2015 1.98 2.36
2014 2.03 2.42
2013 2.03 2.43
2012 2.04 2.45
2011 2.07 2.44
2010 2.14 2.44
2009 2.25 2.5
2008 2.37 2.68
2007 2.44 2.55
2006 2.51 2.55
2005 2.64 2.51
2004 2.79 2.44
2003 2.93 2.36
2002 3.01 2.32
2001 3.08 2.37
2000 3.07 2.41
1999 3.12 2.56
1998 3.21 2.63
1997 3.33 2.73
1996 3.44 2.99
1995 3.56 3.17
1994 3.67 3.26
1993 3.77 3.37
1992 3.85 3.48
1991 3.99 3.62
1990 4.23 3.72
1989 4.41 3.98
1988 4.51 4.18
1987 4.54 4.35
1986 4.57 4.41
1985 4.64 4.5
1984 4.76 4.57
1983 4.9 4.63
1982 5.04 4.7
1981 5.2 4.71
1980 5.33 4.78
1979 5.46 4.82
1978 5.58 4.85
1977 5.69 4.94
1976 5.78 5.07
1975 5.86 5.19
1974 5.94 5.3
1973 6.01 5.41
1972 6.07 5.49
1971 6.15 5.57
1970 6.23 5.63
1969 6.31 5.72
1968 6.39 5.78
1967 6.46 5.85
1966 6.52 5.91
1965 6.53 5.89
1964 6.53 5.96
1963 6.53 6.01
1962 6.53 6.05
1961 6.53 6.08
1960 6.53 6.11

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

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

Qatar and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Qatar

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Qatar South Africa
2024 34.5 29.5
2023 34.1 29.2
2022 33.4 28.9
2021 32.9 28.6
2020 32.6 28.3
2019 32.3 27.9
2018 31.9 27.5
2017 31.6 27
2016 31.4 26.7
2015 31.2 26.4
2014 31.1 26
2013 30.9 25.7
2012 31 25.3
2011 31.2 25
2010 31.3 24.6
2009 30.8 24.3
2008 30.1 24
2007 30.1 23.8
2006 30.6 23.5
2005 30.9 23.3
2004 31 23.1
2003 30.9 22.8
2002 30.5 22.4
2001 30.1 22.2
2000 29.9 21.9
1999 29.8 21.6
1998 29.8 21.4
1997 29.9 21.2
1996 29.6 21.2
1995 29.1 21.5
1994 28.7 22
1993 28.4 21.9
1992 28.1 21.5
1991 27.9 21.5
1990 27.7 21.3
1989 27.6 21.1
1988 27.5 20.9
1987 27.5 20.7
1986 27.4 20.5
1985 27 20.4
1984 26.3 20.2
1983 25.6 20
1982 24.8 19.8
1981 24.1 19.6
1980 23.5 19.4
1979 22.9 19.3
1978 22.3 19.2
1977 21.8 19.1
1976 21.3 19
1975 21 18.9
1974 20.8 18.9
1973 20.9 18.8
1972 21.3 18.8
1971 22.2 18.8
1970 23.7 18.8
1969 24.4 18.8
1968 24 18.8
1967 23.5 18.8
1966 23 18.8
1965 22.5 18.8
1964 21.8 18.9
1963 21.1 18.9
1962 20.1 18.9
1961 19 19
1960 18 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Qatar South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$221B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
26%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.23%
2020
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
6.5%
2022
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
22,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+0.69%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
0.13%
2022
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
46.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
58.2%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
70.2
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2017
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2017
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
26,163
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
1.13%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
2
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00009%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
52
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$170M
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$54B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.44B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
582,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
20.2%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
65.9%
2011
81.1%
2024

Energy

Qatar South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
16,684 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.37
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
135.3 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
47.3 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.9%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.12%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-396%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
19,381 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.28%
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

Qatar South Africa
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+36,288
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
99.3%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
71.3:28.7
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.69 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.27 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
80
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
58
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
68
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.07
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
7.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
118
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.8%
2014
91.2%
2024
English speaking
30%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
99.7%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Qatar South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,804
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$134.1
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
82.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.02
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
44%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
24.6%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
15
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12.5%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.05 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Qatar South Africa
% of world land
0.008%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,552 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
285.7 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
0 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
4,374 mi
2016
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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