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Saudi Arabia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Saudi Arabia has a population of 35.3M (ranked 45/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Saudi Arabia's land area is 830,000 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 12th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Saudi Arabia ranks 18/197 ($1.24T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia ranks 33/197 ($35,122), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Saudi Arabia South Africa
Population
36734925
65683993
Population rank 44/197 24/197
GDP
$1.24T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 18/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$35,122
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 33/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$71,375
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$324B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
26.2%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$9,185
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 58/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,076
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 830,000 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
44.1 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.28
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
30.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
79.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Saudi Arabia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Saudi Arabia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2024 $1,239,804,533,333 $401,144,998,374
2023 $1,218,584,533,333 $381,440,724,491
2022 $1,239,075,200,000 $407,596,043,068
2021 $982,661,066,667 $419,986,284,375
2020 $767,951,200,000 $337,974,655,408
2019 $888,890,133,333 $389,330,032,224
2018 $886,564,800,000 $405,260,723,893
2017 $741,266,133,333 $381,448,814,653
2016 $689,279,466,667 $323,585,509,674
2015 $693,414,400,000 $346,709,790,459
2014 $787,153,066,667 $381,198,869,776
2013 $769,755,733,333 $400,886,013,596
2012 $751,921,333,333 $434,400,545,086
2011 $680,660,800,000 $458,199,494,831
2010 $528,207,466,667 $417,363,822,802
2009 $429,097,866,667 $329,754,060,647
2008 $519,796,800,000 $316,131,258,616
2007 $415,964,509,673 $333,077,117,254
2006 $376,900,133,511 $303,858,675,364
2005 $328,459,608,764 $288,867,217,197
2004 $258,742,133,333 $255,806,908,595
2003 $215,807,733,333 $197,018,965,309
2002 $189,605,866,667 $129,087,556,612
2001 $184,137,600,000 $135,429,905,923
2000 $189,514,933,333 $151,752,757,215
1999 $161,717,066,667 $151,516,957,079
1998 $146,775,466,667 $152,982,984,557
1997 $165,963,684,913 $168,978,057,328
1996 $158,662,483,311 $163,234,925,381
1995 $143,343,124,166 $171,735,933,897
1994 $135,174,899,866 $153,512,712,382
1993 $132,967,957,276 $147,194,747,566
1992 $137,087,850,467 $146,956,150,987
1991 $132,223,230,975 $135,203,698,238
1990 $117,630,173,565 $126,048,140,142
1989 $95,344,459,279 $108,055,624,082
1988 $88,256,074,766 $103,976,831,871
1987 $85,695,861,148 $96,535,763,418
1986 $86,961,922,765 $73,354,771,399
1985 $103,897,846,494 $64,459,376,087
1984 $119,624,858,116 $84,870,163,366
1983 $129,171,635,311 $96,204,110,942
1982 $153,240,313,858 $85,904,057,409
1981 $184,291,360,139 $93,141,472,164
1980 $164,539,660,725 $89,411,864,402
1979 $111,858,444,786 $63,038,658,089
1978 $80,266,516,687 $51,607,412,902
1977 $74,188,986,586 $45,328,411,332
1976 $64,005,665,722 $41,150,460,288
1975 $46,773,208,643 $42,906,905,672
1974 $45,412,957,746 $41,389,186,095
1973 $14,947,435,499 $33,262,772,008
1972 $9,664,267,087 $24,515,919,217
1971 $7,184,806,909 $23,411,076,638
1970 $5,377,333,333 $21,218,391,513
1969 $4,485,777,644 $19,256,992,297
1968 $4,187,777,711 $17,124,793,150
1967 $3,257,022,223 $15,821,393,671
1966 $2,920,555,557 $14,211,394,315
1965 $2,647,955,558 $13,068,994,772
1964 $2,371,808,713 $11,955,995,218
1963 $2,207,393,172 $10,854,195,658
1962 $2,130,606,532 $9,813,996,074
1961 $1,920,811,284 $9,225,996,310
1960 $1,748,124,064 $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Saudi Arabia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2024 $35,122 $6,267
2023 $36,157 $6,034
2022 $38,510 $6,534
2021 $31,921 $6,829
2020 $24,339 $5,581
2019 $29,567 $6,534
2018 $29,360 $6,914
2017 $23,929 $6,618
2016 $22,268 $5,651
2015 $23,256 $6,112
2014 $27,805 $6,857
2013 $27,865 $7,332
2012 $28,733 $8,077
2011 $27,127 $8,646
2010 $22,028 $7,973
2009 $17,718 $6,375
2008 $22,320 $6,185
2007 $18,596 $6,592
2006 $17,564 $6,077
2005 $15,976 $5,837
2004 $13,154 $5,221
2003 $11,487 $4,062
2002 $10,586 $2,688
2001 $10,805 $2,847
2000 $11,715 $3,218
1999 $10,452 $3,242
1998 $9,836 $3,310
1997 $11,545 $3,700
1996 $11,472 $3,618
1995 $10,786 $3,856
1994 $10,602 $3,489
1993 $10,885 $3,400
1992 $11,730 $3,462
1991 $11,847 $3,243
1990 $11,055 $3,093
1989 $9,414 $2,727
1988 $9,165 $2,702
1987 $9,386 $2,586
1986 $10,078 $2,027
1985 $12,745 $1,839
1984 $15,541 $2,504
1983 $17,810 $2,938
1982 $22,454 $2,717
1981 $28,703 $3,050
1980 $27,206 $3,029
1979 $19,612 $2,202
1978 $14,914 $1,852
1977 $14,595 $1,671
1976 $13,313 $1,559
1975 $10,266 $1,670
1974 $10,503 $1,656
1973 $3,640 $1,369
1972 $2,474 $1,038
1971 $1,929 $1,020
1970 $1,509 $952
1969 $1,313 $891
1968 $1,276 $817
1967 $1,032 $779
1966 $961 $722
1965 $904 $685
1964 $840 $646
1963 $812 $605
1962 $813 $563
1961 $760 $546
1960 $718 $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Saudi Arabia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2026 79.4 66.7
2025 79.2 66.5
2024 79 66.3
2023 78.7 66.1
2022 77.3 65.5
2021 77.1 62
2020 77.6 65.2
2019 78.3 66.1
2018 78.7 65.7
2017 78.7 65.4
2016 78.4 64.7
2015 77.8 64.1
2014 77.1 63.2
2013 76.5 62.4
2012 76.1 61.7
2011 75.8 60.6
2010 75.6 58.9
2009 75.4 57.4
2008 75.3 56
2007 75.1 54.9
2006 74.8 54.2
2005 74.4 53.9
2004 74 54
2003 73.7 54.2
2002 73.3 55.6
2001 73 57.2
2000 72.6 58.4
1999 72.3 59.2
1998 72 59.9
1997 71.6 60.5
1996 71.3 61.1
1995 70.9 61.6
1994 70.6 62.1
1993 70.2 62.6
1992 69.8 62.8
1991 69.3 63
1990 68.9 62.9
1989 68.4 63
1988 67.8 62.9
1987 67.2 62.7
1986 66.6 62.4
1985 66 62.2
1984 65.4 61.8
1983 64.7 61.4
1982 64 60.9
1981 63.3 60.4
1980 62.4 60
1979 61.5 59.5
1978 60.7 59
1977 59.7 58.5
1976 58.8 58
1975 57.8 57.6
1974 56.8 57.1
1973 55.8 56.7
1972 54.7 56.4
1971 53.7 56
1970 52.7 55.7
1969 51.8 55.4
1968 50.9 55.2
1967 50 55
1966 49.2 54.7
1965 48.4 54.4
1964 47.7 54.2
1963 47.1 53.9
1962 46.5 53.6
1961 45.9 53.1
1960 45.3 52.6
1959 44.8 51.9
1958 44.2 51.1
1957 43.7 50.2
1956 43.1 49.2
1955 42.6 48.2
1954 42.1 47.1
1953 41.6 46.1
1952 41.1 45
1951 40.6 44.1
1950 40 43.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Saudi Arabia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2024 35,300,280 64,007,187
2023 33,702,731 63,212,384
2022 32,175,224 62,378,410
2021 30,784,383 61,502,603
2020 31,552,510 60,562,381
2019 30,063,799 59,587,885
2018 30,196,281 58,613,001
2017 30,977,355 57,635,162
2016 30,954,198 57,259,551
2015 29,816,382 56,723,537
2014 28,309,273 55,594,838
2013 27,624,004 54,678,791
2012 26,168,861 53,782,567
2011 25,091,867 52,995,205
2010 23,978,487 52,344,051
2009 24,217,654 51,728,516
2008 23,287,877 51,114,599
2007 22,368,313 50,528,584
2006 21,459,144 49,998,277
2005 20,559,890 49,490,033
2004 19,669,480 48,991,421
2003 18,786,767 48,500,348
2002 17,910,910 48,019,415
2001 17,041,397 47,566,800
2000 16,177,722 47,159,719
1999 15,472,075 46,730,335
1998 14,922,185 46,223,880
1997 14,374,943 45,666,838
1996 13,831,009 45,123,018
1995 13,289,245 44,541,554
1994 12,750,040 44,004,139
1993 12,215,862 43,297,156
1992 11,686,676 42,443,509
1991 11,160,744 41,687,898
1990 10,640,691 40,746,268
1989 10,128,394 39,628,575
1988 9,629,165 38,480,649
1987 9,130,194 37,326,190
1986 8,628,639 36,180,515
1985 8,151,779 35,042,093
1984 7,697,307 33,892,788
1983 7,252,941 32,739,304
1982 6,824,486 31,615,339
1981 6,420,551 30,541,044
1980 6,047,997 29,518,857
1979 5,703,698 28,634,162
1978 5,381,902 27,869,507
1977 5,083,048 27,118,952
1976 4,807,933 26,395,450
1975 4,556,287 25,690,940
1974 4,323,632 24,989,108
1973 4,106,344 24,294,263
1972 3,905,722 23,609,456
1971 3,724,031 22,942,143
1970 3,562,470 22,279,984
1969 3,417,114 21,614,676
1968 3,282,711 20,957,287
1967 3,157,242 20,314,066
1966 3,039,887 19,690,087
1965 2,928,771 19,089,380
1964 2,821,968 18,511,361
1963 2,719,341 17,954,564
1962 2,620,910 17,418,522
1961 2,526,347 16,908,035
1960 2,435,403 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Saudi Arabia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2023 2.28 2.22
2022 2.14 2.23
2021 2.17 2.25
2020 2.27 2.26
2019 2.49 2.26
2018 2.67 2.27
2017 2.67 2.28
2016 2.65 2.26
2015 2.63 2.36
2014 2.68 2.42
2013 2.67 2.43
2012 2.78 2.45
2011 2.8 2.44
2010 2.81 2.44
2009 2.95 2.5
2008 3.07 2.68
2007 3.19 2.55
2006 3.18 2.55
2005 3.16 2.51
2004 3.26 2.44
2003 3.47 2.36
2002 3.71 2.32
2001 3.96 2.37
2000 4.21 2.41
1999 4.35 2.56
1998 4.52 2.63
1997 4.66 2.73
1996 4.81 2.99
1995 4.99 3.17
1994 5.16 3.26
1993 5.33 3.37
1992 5.49 3.48
1991 5.64 3.62
1990 5.8 3.72
1989 5.98 3.98
1988 6.15 4.18
1987 6.34 4.35
1986 6.52 4.41
1985 6.65 4.5
1984 6.78 4.57
1983 6.88 4.63
1982 6.98 4.7
1981 7.07 4.71
1980 7.15 4.78
1979 7.23 4.82
1978 7.26 4.85
1977 7.3 4.94
1976 7.33 5.07
1975 7.37 5.19
1974 7.43 5.3
1973 7.48 5.41
1972 7.54 5.49
1971 7.56 5.57
1970 7.58 5.63
1969 7.6 5.72
1968 7.63 5.78
1967 7.66 5.85
1966 7.66 5.91
1965 7.66 5.89
1964 7.67 5.96
1963 7.65 6.01
1962 7.64 6.05
1961 7.63 6.08
1960 7.63 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Saudi Arabia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Saudi Arabia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Saudi Arabia South Africa
2024 30.5 29.5
2023 30.2 29.2
2022 29.7 28.9
2021 29.5 28.6
2020 29.4 28.3
2019 29.3 27.9
2018 29.3 27.5
2017 29 27
2016 28.6 26.7
2015 27.9 26.4
2014 27.2 26
2013 26.6 25.7
2012 25.9 25.3
2011 25.2 25
2010 24.5 24.6
2009 23.9 24.3
2008 23.4 24
2007 22.8 23.8
2006 22.3 23.5
2005 21.9 23.3
2004 21.4 23.1
2003 21.1 22.8
2002 20.8 22.4
2001 20.7 22.2
2000 20.8 21.9
1999 20.7 21.6
1998 20.4 21.4
1997 20.2 21.2
1996 19.9 21.2
1995 19.7 21.5
1994 19.6 22
1993 19.4 21.9
1992 19.3 21.5
1991 19.2 21.5
1990 19 21.3
1989 19 21.1
1988 18.9 20.9
1987 18.8 20.7
1986 18.7 20.5
1985 18.7 20.4
1984 18.6 20.2
1983 18.5 20
1982 18.4 19.8
1981 18.3 19.6
1980 18.2 19.4
1979 18.1 19.3
1978 18 19.2
1977 17.9 19.1
1976 17.8 19
1975 17.7 18.9
1974 17.6 18.9
1973 17.5 18.8
1972 17.4 18.8
1971 17.4 18.8
1970 17.4 18.8
1969 17.4 18.8
1968 17.5 18.8
1967 17.6 18.8
1966 17.7 18.8
1965 17.9 18.8
1964 18 18.9
1963 18.2 18.9
1962 18.4 18.9
1961 18.5 19
1960 18.6 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/saudi-arabia/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Saudi Arabia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$1.26T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.6%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.11%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
7.3%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
282,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.49%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.52%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
47.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
44.9%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
65.4
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
351,855
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
1.44%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
15
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00006%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
352
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.73T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$464B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$338M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
20,292,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.22%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
78.8%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Saudi Arabia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
7,530 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$9.56
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
653 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
18.5 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.9%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.1%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.09%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-178.2%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,835 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.07%
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

Saudi Arabia South Africa
% of world population
0.43%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+119,738
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
84.5%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
60.5:39.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
67.4
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
57
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
78
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.8
2019
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
35.9
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
99
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.9%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
55%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
100%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Saudi Arabia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,825
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$257.7
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
79.4 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.41
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
7
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
42.5%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
23.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
32
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
14.9%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Saudi Arabia South Africa
% of world land
1.44%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
23,513 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
670,418 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,772 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
137,554 mi
2006
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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