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Romania vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Romania has a population of 19.1M (ranked 67/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Romania's land area is 88,834 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 80th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Romania ranks 42/197 ($383B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Romania ranks 58/197 ($20,080), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Romania South Africa
Population
18839108
65683993
Population rank 70/197 24/197
GDP
$383B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 42/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$20,080
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 58/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,077
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$220B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,533
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 48/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,912
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 88,834 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
212.1 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.71
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
43.8 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Romania and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Romania and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Romania South Africa
2024 $382,564,217,989 $401,144,998,374
2023 $347,757,995,759 $381,440,724,491
2022 $295,319,437,557 $407,596,043,068
2021 $285,071,280,114 $419,986,284,375
2020 $250,625,048,304 $337,974,655,408
2019 $250,080,428,512 $389,330,032,224
2018 $241,791,427,224 $405,260,723,893
2017 $210,147,385,855 $381,448,814,653
2016 $185,290,759,249 $323,585,509,674
2015 $177,885,131,240 $346,709,790,459
2014 $199,722,319,676 $381,198,869,776
2013 $189,798,603,751 $400,886,013,596
2012 $179,117,323,107 $434,400,545,086
2011 $192,623,977,894 $458,199,494,831
2010 $170,064,350,672 $417,363,822,802
2009 $174,110,532,659 $329,754,060,647
2008 $214,315,932,061 $316,131,258,616
2007 $174,588,782,939 $333,077,117,254
2006 $122,023,735,993 $303,858,675,364
2005 $98,454,380,120 $288,867,217,197
2004 $74,973,656,852 $255,806,908,595
2003 $57,806,384,143 $197,018,965,309
2002 $46,065,502,703 $129,087,556,612
2001 $40,395,116,581 $135,429,905,923
2000 $37,253,739,511 $151,752,757,215
1999 $35,953,156,754 $151,516,957,079
1998 $41,696,091,974 $152,982,984,557
1997 $35,575,214,078 $168,978,057,328
1996 $36,937,074,278 $163,234,925,381
1995 $37,430,162,103 $171,735,933,897
1994 $30,072,805,104 $153,512,712,382
1993 $26,361,160,450 $147,194,747,566
1992 $25,121,666,667 $146,956,150,987
1991 $28,850,634,900 $135,203,698,238
1990 $38,247,882,300 $126,048,140,142
1989 $41,450,777,202 $108,055,624,082
1988 $40,424,528,302 $103,976,831,871
1987 $38,067,567,568 $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/romania/south-africa | CC BY

Romania and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Romania South Africa
2024 $20,080 $6,267
2023 $18,244 $6,034
2022 $15,504 $6,534
2021 $14,908 $6,829
2020 $13,009 $5,581
2019 $12,910 $6,534
2018 $12,416 $6,914
2017 $10,728 $6,618
2016 $9,405 $5,651
2015 $8,977 $6,112
2014 $10,032 $6,857
2013 $9,498 $7,332
2012 $8,930 $8,077
2011 $9,561 $8,646
2010 $8,400 $7,973
2009 $8,548 $6,375
2008 $10,435 $6,185
2007 $8,360 $6,592
2006 $5,758 $6,077
2005 $4,618 $5,837
2004 $3,495 $5,221
2003 $2,679 $4,062
2002 $2,120 $2,688
2001 $1,825 $2,847
2000 $1,660 $3,218
1999 $1,600 $3,242
1998 $1,853 $3,310
1997 $1,577 $3,700
1996 $1,633 $3,618
1995 $1,650 $3,856
1994 $1,323 $3,489
1993 $1,158 $3,400
1992 $1,102 $3,462
1991 $1,254 $3,243
1990 $1,648 $3,093
1989 $1,790 $2,727
1988 $1,753 $2,702
1987 $1,659 $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/romania/south-africa | CC BY

Romania vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Romania South Africa
2026 76.4 66.7
2025 76.2 66.5
2024 76.1 66.3
2023 75.9 66.1
2022 75.3 65.5
2021 72.7 62
2020 74 65.2
2019 75.3 66.1
2018 75.1 65.7
2017 75 65.4
2016 75 64.7
2015 74.7 64.1
2014 74.8 63.2
2013 74.9 62.4
2012 74.3 61.7
2011 74.3 60.6
2010 73.6 58.9
2009 73.5 57.4
2008 73.2 56
2007 72.8 54.9
2006 72.2 54.2
2005 71.6 53.9
2004 71.1 54
2003 70.8 54.2
2002 70.8 55.6
2001 71.1 57.2
2000 71.2 58.4
1999 70.6 59.2
1998 69.9 59.9
1997 69.1 60.5
1996 68.8 61.1
1995 69.3 61.6
1994 69.3 62.1
1993 69.5 62.6
1992 69.5 62.8
1991 70 63
1990 69.8 62.9
1989 69.5 63
1988 69.4 62.9
1987 69.1 62.7
1986 69.7 62.4
1985 69.4 62.2
1984 69.9 61.8
1983 69.8 61.4
1982 69.8 60.9
1981 69.5 60.4
1980 69.2 60
1979 69.5 59.5
1978 69.8 59
1977 69.5 58.5
1976 69.9 58
1975 69.6 57.6
1974 69.5 57.1
1973 68.7 56.7
1972 69 56.4
1971 68.4 56
1970 67.9 55.7
1969 67.2 55.4
1968 67.9 55.2
1967 68.1 55
1966 68.2 54.7
1965 68.4 54.4
1964 68.4 54.2
1963 67.8 53.9
1962 67.2 53.6
1961 66.4 53.1
1960 65.6 52.6
1959 64.9 51.9
1958 64.4 51.1
1957 64 50.2
1956 63.6 49.2
1955 63.3 48.2
1954 63 47.1
1953 62.5 46.1
1952 61.8 45
1951 61.2 44.1
1950 60.5 43.1

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

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

Romania and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Romania South Africa
2024 19,051,804 64,007,187
2023 19,061,062 63,212,384
2022 19,048,502 62,378,410
2021 19,122,059 61,502,603
2020 19,265,250 60,562,381
2019 19,371,648 59,587,885
2018 19,473,970 58,613,001
2017 19,588,715 57,635,162
2016 19,702,267 57,259,551
2015 19,815,616 56,723,537
2014 19,908,979 55,594,838
2013 19,983,693 54,678,791
2012 20,058,035 53,782,567
2011 20,147,528 52,995,205
2010 20,246,871 52,344,051
2009 20,367,487 51,728,516
2008 20,537,875 51,114,599
2007 20,882,982 50,528,584
2006 21,193,760 49,998,277
2005 21,319,685 49,490,033
2004 21,451,748 48,991,421
2003 21,574,326 48,500,348
2002 21,730,496 48,019,415
2001 22,131,970 47,566,800
2000 22,442,971 47,159,719
1999 22,472,040 46,730,335
1998 22,507,344 46,223,880
1997 22,553,978 45,666,838
1996 22,619,004 45,123,018
1995 22,684,270 44,541,554
1994 22,730,211 44,004,139
1993 22,763,280 43,297,156
1992 22,794,284 42,443,509
1991 23,001,155 41,687,898
1990 23,201,835 40,746,268
1989 23,161,458 39,628,575
1988 23,057,662 38,480,649
1987 22,949,430 37,326,190
1986 22,836,841 36,180,515
1985 22,732,999 35,042,093
1984 22,640,547 33,892,788
1983 22,560,478 32,739,304
1982 22,475,741 31,615,339
1981 22,353,070 30,541,044
1980 22,207,282 29,518,857
1979 22,090,488 28,634,162
1978 21,951,464 27,869,507
1977 21,756,096 27,118,952
1976 21,551,634 26,395,450
1975 21,293,583 25,690,940
1974 21,029,429 24,989,108
1973 20,835,681 24,294,263
1972 20,657,957 23,609,456
1971 20,461,567 22,942,143
1970 20,250,398 22,279,984
1969 20,009,141 21,614,676
1968 19,799,831 20,957,287
1967 19,534,242 20,314,066
1966 19,215,450 19,690,087
1965 19,031,576 19,089,380
1964 18,919,126 18,511,361
1963 18,797,850 17,954,564
1962 18,676,550 17,418,522
1961 18,555,250 16,908,035
1960 18,406,905 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Romania and South Africa

Fertility rate
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Romania South Africa
2023 1.71 2.22
2022 1.71 2.23
2021 1.81 2.25
2020 1.8 2.26
2019 1.77 2.26
2018 1.76 2.27
2017 1.78 2.28
2016 1.69 2.26
2015 1.62 2.36
2014 1.56 2.42
2013 1.46 2.43
2012 1.52 2.45
2011 1.47 2.44
2010 1.59 2.44
2009 1.66 2.5
2008 1.6 2.68
2007 1.45 2.55
2006 1.42 2.55
2005 1.4 2.51
2004 1.33 2.44
2003 1.3 2.36
2002 1.27 2.32
2001 1.27 2.37
2000 1.31 2.41
1999 1.3 2.56
1998 1.32 2.63
1997 1.32 2.73
1996 1.3 2.99
1995 1.33 3.17
1994 1.4 3.26
1993 1.43 3.37
1992 1.51 3.48
1991 1.59 3.62
1990 1.83 3.72
1989 2.22 3.98
1988 2.3 4.18
1987 2.38 4.35
1986 2.39 4.41
1985 2.31 4.5
1984 2.26 4.57
1983 2.06 4.63
1982 2.17 4.7
1981 2.36 4.71
1980 2.43 4.78
1979 2.49 4.82
1978 2.52 4.85
1977 2.57 4.94
1976 2.54 5.07
1975 2.59 5.19
1974 2.71 5.3
1973 2.44 5.41
1972 2.55 5.49
1971 2.67 5.57
1970 2.89 5.63
1969 3.19 5.72
1968 3.63 5.78
1967 3.66 5.85
1966 1.9 5.91
1965 1.91 5.89
1964 1.96 5.96
1963 2.01 6.01
1962 2.04 6.05
1961 2.17 6.08
1960 2.34 6.11

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

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

Romania and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Romania

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Romania South Africa
2024 43.8 29.5
2023 43.5 29.2
2022 43.3 28.9
2021 43.2 28.6
2020 42.9 28.3
2019 42.6 27.9
2018 42.3 27.5
2017 42 27
2016 41.7 26.7
2015 41.3 26.4
2014 40.9 26
2013 40.5 25.7
2012 40.2 25.3
2011 39.8 25
2010 39.3 24.6
2009 38.8 24.3
2008 38.2 24
2007 37.7 23.8
2006 37.3 23.5
2005 37 23.3
2004 36.6 23.1
2003 36 22.8
2002 35.3 22.4
2001 34.8 22.2
2000 34.8 21.9
1999 34.7 21.6
1998 34.6 21.4
1997 34.4 21.2
1996 34.2 21.2
1995 34 21.5
1994 33.8 22
1993 33.6 21.9
1992 33.3 21.5
1991 33.1 21.5
1990 33 21.3
1989 32.9 21.1
1988 32.8 20.9
1987 32.8 20.7
1986 32.7 20.5
1985 32.5 20.4
1984 32.3 20.2
1983 32.1 20
1982 32 19.8
1981 31.9 19.6
1980 31.8 19.4
1979 31.7 19.3
1978 31.7 19.2
1977 31.8 19.1
1976 31.8 19
1975 31.7 18.9
1974 31.6 18.9
1973 31.5 18.8
1972 31.5 18.8
1971 31.4 18.8
1970 31.4 18.8
1969 31.3 18.8
1968 31.3 18.8
1967 31.3 18.8
1966 31 18.8
1965 30.6 18.8
1964 30.2 18.9
1963 29.7 18.9
1962 29.3 18.9
1961 28.9 19
1960 28.5 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Romania South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$335B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.28%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.3%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
128,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-8.68%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.43%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
62.6%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.3%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
65.4
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.8%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
6
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
83
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$47.4B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$73.4B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$9.53B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
5,023,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.73%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
71.3%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Romania South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,601 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
70.9 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.72 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
70.4%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
23.6%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
17.5%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
28.1%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,585 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
44.9%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
32.2%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
19.3%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Romania South Africa
% of world population
0.23%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-29,041
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
52.2%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.4:51.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.83 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
71.2
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
45
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
69
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.12
2024
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
10.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
170
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.2%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
31%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
91.3%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Romania South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,051
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$241.3
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
27.1 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
12
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.6
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
35%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.5%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
50
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
30%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
16.8 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Romania South Africa
% of world land
0.15%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
4,663 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
49,093 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
26,753 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
53,964 mi
2024
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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