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Russia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Russia has a population of 144M (ranked 9/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Russia's land area is 6,323,145 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 1st vs. 24th).

By GDP, Russia ranks 11/197 ($2.17T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Russia ranks 68/197 ($15,145), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Russia South Africa
Population
141906741
65683993
Population rank 9/197 24/197
GDP
$2.17T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 11/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$15,145
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 68/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$47,405
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$440B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
20.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$3,067
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 98/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,464
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 6,323,145 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
22.4 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.41
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
40.9 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
73.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Russia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Russia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Russia South Africa
2024 $2,173,835,806,672 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,071,505,725,031 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,291,612,121,335 $407,596,043,068
2021 $1,829,186,719,575 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,493,075,894,362 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,693,115,002,708 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,657,328,773,461 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,574,199,360,089 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,276,786,350,881 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,363,482,182,198 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,059,241,589,895 $381,198,869,776
2013 $2,292,470,078,346 $400,886,013,596
2012 $2,208,293,553,878 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,045,922,753,398 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,524,916,715,224 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,222,645,900,056 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,660,848,058,303 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,299,703,478,482 $333,077,117,254
2006 $989,932,071,353 $303,858,675,364
2005 $764,015,973,481 $288,867,217,197
2004 $591,016,690,732 $255,806,908,595
2003 $430,347,420,185 $197,018,965,309
2002 $345,470,494,418 $129,087,556,612
2001 $306,602,070,621 $135,429,905,923
2000 $259,710,142,197 $151,752,757,215
1999 $195,907,128,351 $151,516,957,079
1998 $270,955,486,862 $152,982,984,557
1997 $404,928,954,192 $168,978,057,328
1996 $391,724,890,744 $163,234,925,381
1995 $395,537,185,735 $171,735,933,897
1994 $395,077,301,248 $153,512,712,382
1993 $435,083,713,851 $147,194,747,566
1992 $460,290,556,901 $146,956,150,987
1991 $517,962,962,963 $135,203,698,238
1990 $517,014,446,228 $126,048,140,142
1989 $506,631,299,735 $108,055,624,082
1988 $554,828,660,436 $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/russia/south-africa | CC BY

Russia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Russia South Africa
2024 $15,145 $6,267
2023 $14,403 $6,034
2022 $15,888 $6,534
2021 $12,637 $6,829
2020 $10,280 $5,581
2019 $11,640 $6,534
2018 $11,399 $6,914
2017 $10,835 $6,618
2016 $8,804 $5,651
2015 $9,427 $6,112
2014 $14,277 $6,857
2013 $15,941 $7,332
2012 $15,402 $8,077
2011 $14,305 $8,646
2010 $10,675 $7,973
2009 $8,563 $6,375
2008 $11,635 $6,185
2007 $9,101 $6,592
2006 $6,920 $6,077
2005 $5,323 $5,837
2004 $4,102 $5,221
2003 $2,975 $4,062
2002 $2,378 $2,688
2001 $2,100 $2,847
2000 $1,772 $3,218
1999 $1,331 $3,242
1998 $1,835 $3,310
1997 $2,738 $3,700
1996 $2,644 $3,618
1995 $2,666 $3,856
1994 $2,662 $3,489
1993 $2,931 $3,400
1992 $3,099 $3,462
1991 $3,490 $3,243
1990 $3,494 $3,093
1989 $3,430 $2,727
1988 $3,778 $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/russia/south-africa | CC BY

Russia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Russia South Africa
2026 73.7 66.7
2025 73.5 66.5
2024 73.3 66.3
2023 73.2 66.1
2022 72.5 65.5
2021 69.8 62
2020 71.2 65.2
2019 73.1 66.1
2018 72.9 65.7
2017 72.8 65.4
2016 71.9 64.7
2015 71.3 64.1
2014 70.8 63.2
2013 70.6 62.4
2012 70.1 61.7
2011 69.7 60.6
2010 68.2 58.9
2009 68.7 57.4
2008 67.9 56
2007 67.5 54.9
2006 66.5 54.2
2005 65.2 53.9
2004 65.1 54
2003 64.7 54.2
2002 64.7 55.6
2001 65 57.2
2000 65 58.4
1999 65.6 59.2
1998 66.9 59.9
1997 66.6 60.5
1996 65.4 61.1
1995 64 61.6
1994 63.8 62.1
1993 65 62.6
1992 67.8 62.8
1991 69 63
1990 69.3 62.9
1989 69.7 63
1988 69.9 62.9
1987 70.1 62.7
1986 70 62.4
1985 68.3 62.2
1984 67.6 61.8
1983 68 61.4
1982 68.1 60.9
1981 67.6 60.4
1980 67.5 60
1979 67.6 59.5
1978 67.8 59
1977 67.9 58.5
1976 68.1 58
1975 68.3 57.6
1974 68.7 57.1
1973 68.9 56.7
1972 68.8 56.4
1971 68.9 56
1970 68.7 55.7
1969 68.6 55.4
1968 69.1 55.2
1967 69.2 55
1966 69.4 54.7
1965 69.3 54.4
1964 69.5 54.2
1963 69.1 53.9
1962 68.5 53.6
1961 68.6 53.1
1960 68.3 52.6
1959 67.4 51.9
1958 67.7 51.1
1957 66 50.2
1956 66.5 49.2
1955 62.1 48.2
1954 59.9 47.1
1953 58.8 46.1
1952 57.6 45
1951 55.3 44.1
1950 55.5 43.1

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

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

Russia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Russia South Africa
2024 143,533,851 64,007,187
2023 143,826,130 63,212,384
2022 144,236,933 62,378,410
2021 144,746,762 61,502,603
2020 145,245,148 60,562,381
2019 145,453,291 59,587,885
2018 145,398,106 58,613,001
2017 145,293,260 57,635,162
2016 145,015,460 57,259,551
2015 144,640,716 56,723,537
2014 144,237,223 55,594,838
2013 143,805,638 54,678,791
2012 143,378,447 53,782,567
2011 143,018,195 52,995,205
2010 142,849,468 52,344,051
2009 142,785,348 51,728,516
2008 142,742,366 51,114,599
2007 142,805,114 50,528,584
2006 143,049,637 49,998,277
2005 143,518,814 49,490,033
2004 144,067,316 48,991,421
2003 144,648,618 48,500,348
2002 145,306,497 48,019,415
2001 145,976,482 47,566,800
2000 146,596,869 47,159,719
1999 147,214,776 46,730,335
1998 147,670,784 46,223,880
1997 147,915,361 45,666,838
1996 148,160,129 45,123,018
1995 148,375,787 44,541,554
1994 148,407,912 44,004,139
1993 148,458,777 43,297,156
1992 148,538,197 42,443,509
1991 148,394,216 41,687,898
1990 147,969,406 40,746,268
1989 147,721,000 39,628,575
1988 146,857,000 38,480,649
1987 145,908,000 37,326,190
1986 144,894,000 36,180,515
1985 143,858,000 35,042,093
1984 142,745,000 33,892,788
1983 141,668,000 32,739,304
1982 140,823,000 31,615,339
1981 139,941,000 30,541,044
1980 139,010,000 29,518,857
1979 138,027,000 28,634,162
1978 137,060,000 27,869,507
1977 136,100,000 27,118,952
1976 135,147,000 26,395,450
1975 134,200,000 25,690,940
1974 133,432,000 24,989,108
1973 132,669,000 24,294,263
1972 131,909,000 23,609,456
1971 131,155,000 22,942,143
1970 130,404,000 22,279,984
1969 129,664,000 21,614,676
1968 128,928,000 20,957,287
1967 128,196,000 20,314,066
1966 127,468,000 19,690,087
1965 126,745,000 19,089,380
1964 125,345,000 18,511,361
1963 123,960,000 17,954,564
1962 122,591,000 17,418,522
1961 121,236,000 16,908,035
1960 119,897,000 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Russia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Russia South Africa
2023 1.41 2.22
2022 1.42 2.23
2021 1.51 2.25
2020 1.51 2.26
2019 1.5 2.26
2018 1.58 2.27
2017 1.62 2.28
2016 1.76 2.26
2015 1.78 2.36
2014 1.75 2.42
2013 1.71 2.43
2012 1.69 2.45
2011 1.58 2.44
2010 1.57 2.44
2009 1.54 2.5
2008 1.5 2.68
2007 1.42 2.55
2006 1.31 2.55
2005 1.29 2.51
2004 1.34 2.44
2003 1.32 2.36
2002 1.29 2.32
2001 1.22 2.37
2000 1.2 2.41
1999 1.16 2.56
1998 1.23 2.63
1997 1.22 2.73
1996 1.27 2.99
1995 1.34 3.17
1994 1.4 3.26
1993 1.39 3.37
1992 1.55 3.48
1991 1.73 3.62
1990 1.89 3.72
1989 2.01 3.98
1988 2.12 4.18
1987 2.22 4.35
1986 2.15 4.41
1985 2.05 4.5
1984 2.06 4.57
1983 2.11 4.63
1982 2.04 4.7
1981 1.91 4.71
1980 1.89 4.78
1979 1.9 4.82
1978 1.92 4.85
1977 1.95 4.94
1976 1.97 5.07
1975 1.98 5.19
1974 2 5.3
1973 2.01 5.41
1972 2.04 5.49
1971 2.03 5.57
1970 1.99 5.63
1969 1.97 5.72
1968 1.99 5.78
1967 2.04 5.85
1966 2.1 5.91
1965 2.13 5.89
1964 2.18 5.96
1963 2.27 6.01
1962 2.36 6.05
1961 2.45 6.08
1960 2.52 6.11

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

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

Russia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Russia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Russia South Africa
2024 40.9 29.5
2023 40.5 29.2
2022 40.1 28.9
2021 39.9 28.6
2020 39.7 28.3
2019 39.4 27.9
2018 39.2 27.5
2017 39 27
2016 38.8 26.7
2015 38.7 26.4
2014 38.6 26
2013 38.4 25.7
2012 38.3 25.3
2011 38.1 25
2010 38 24.6
2009 37.9 24.3
2008 37.8 24
2007 37.7 23.8
2006 37.6 23.5
2005 37.4 23.3
2004 37.2 23.1
2003 37 22.8
2002 36.9 22.4
2001 36.8 22.2
2000 36.6 21.9
1999 36.3 21.6
1998 36 21.4
1997 35.7 21.2
1996 35.3 21.2
1995 35 21.5
1994 34.7 22
1993 34.4 21.9
1992 33.9 21.5
1991 33.6 21.5
1990 33.2 21.3
1989 32.9 21.1
1988 32.6 20.9
1987 32.4 20.7
1986 32.2 20.5
1985 32 20.4
1984 31.8 20.2
1983 31.7 20
1982 31.6 19.8
1981 31.4 19.6
1980 31.3 19.4
1979 31.1 19.3
1978 31 19.2
1977 30.9 19.1
1976 30.6 19
1975 30.7 18.9
1974 30.9 18.9
1973 31.1 18.8
1972 31.1 18.8
1971 31 18.8
1970 30.7 18.8
1969 30.3 18.8
1968 29.8 18.8
1967 29.2 18.8
1966 28.9 18.8
1965 28.6 18.8
1964 28.3 18.9
1963 28.1 18.9
1962 27.7 18.9
1961 27.4 19
1960 27.1 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Russia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.24T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.16%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
7.05%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,454,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.6%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.43%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.7%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
50.3
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.1%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
426,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.38%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
140
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
194
2023
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$650B
2023
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$597B
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.91B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
6,359,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.3%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
79.3%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Russia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,601 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.43
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
2,009 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
14 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
89.5%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.5%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.45%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-75.1%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
7,184 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
19.2%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
17.3%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
19.4%
2022
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Russia South Africa
% of world population
1.77%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-251,822
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
75.1%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
46.4:53.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.79 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
48.7
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
22
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
84
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.76
2024
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
123
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.9%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
4.84%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
94.4%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Russia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,003
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$284.9
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
73.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.05%
2008
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
5.11
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
25.2 years
2013
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
9
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
4.5
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
24.8%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
69
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
29.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.5 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Russia South Africa
% of world land
11%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
44,053 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
832,826 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,147,937 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
981,326 mi
2023
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) (2013, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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