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Singapore vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Singapore has a population of 6.04M (ranked 113/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Singapore's land area is 277.2 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 177th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Singapore ranks 28/197 ($547B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Singapore ranks 7/197 ($90,674), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Singapore South Africa
Population
6125852
65683993
Population rank 113/197 24/197
GDP
$547B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 28/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$90,674
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 7/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$150,689
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$950B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
173.5%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$157,326
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 1/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$52,793
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 277.2 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
22,064 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.97
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
36.8 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Singapore and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Singapore and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Singapore South Africa
2024 $547,386,645,892 $401,144,998,374
2023 $505,439,514,078 $381,440,724,491
2022 $509,017,841,147 $407,596,043,068
2021 $436,591,382,250 $419,986,284,375
2020 $349,165,858,545 $337,974,655,408
2019 $376,161,998,830 $389,330,032,224
2018 $377,123,710,561 $405,260,723,893
2017 $343,673,334,902 $381,448,814,653
2016 $319,646,468,521 $323,585,509,674
2015 $307,998,545,269 $346,709,790,459
2014 $314,863,580,758 $381,198,869,776
2013 $307,576,360,585 $400,886,013,596
2012 $295,092,888,077 $434,400,545,086
2011 $279,356,499,090 $458,199,494,831
2010 $239,807,980,591 $417,363,822,802
2009 $194,150,283,772 $329,754,060,647
2008 $193,617,323,539 $316,131,258,616
2007 $180,941,701,358 $333,077,117,254
2006 $148,627,286,361 $303,858,675,364
2005 $127,807,848,728 $288,867,217,197
2004 $115,033,593,101 $255,806,908,595
2003 $97,646,401,096 $197,018,965,309
2002 $92,538,372,870 $129,087,556,612
2001 $89,793,790,670 $135,429,905,923
2000 $96,076,539,926 $151,752,757,215
1999 $86,286,849,755 $151,516,957,079
1998 $85,728,207,782 $152,982,984,557
1997 $100,123,787,215 $168,978,057,328
1996 $96,293,086,513 $163,234,925,381
1995 $87,812,540,788 $171,735,933,897
1994 $73,688,724,431 $153,512,712,382
1993 $60,603,815,716 $147,194,747,566
1992 $52,131,320,033 $146,956,150,987
1991 $45,466,164,978 $135,203,698,238
1990 $36,144,336,769 $126,048,140,142
1989 $30,465,364,739 $108,055,624,082
1988 $25,371,462,488 $103,976,831,871
1987 $20,919,215,578 $96,535,763,418
1986 $18,586,746,057 $73,354,771,399
1985 $19,156,532,746 $64,459,376,087
1984 $19,749,361,098 $84,870,163,366
1983 $17,784,112,150 $96,204,110,942
1982 $16,084,252,378 $85,904,057,409
1981 $14,175,228,844 $93,141,472,164
1980 $11,896,256,783 $89,411,864,402
1979 $9,296,921,724 $63,038,658,089
1978 $7,517,176,355 $51,607,412,902
1977 $6,618,585,074 $45,328,411,332
1976 $6,327,077,974 $41,150,460,288
1975 $5,633,673,930 $42,906,905,672
1974 $5,221,534,956 $41,389,186,095
1973 $3,696,213,333 $33,262,772,008
1972 $2,721,440,981 $24,515,919,217
1971 $2,263,785,444 $23,411,076,638
1970 $1,920,574,150 $21,218,391,513
1969 $1,659,893,768 $19,256,992,297
1968 $1,425,706,091 $17,124,793,150
1967 $1,238,035,816 $15,821,393,671
1966 $1,096,425,608 $14,211,394,315
1965 $974,644,096 $13,068,994,772
1964 $894,153,311 $11,955,995,218
1963 $917,608,012 $10,854,195,658
1962 $826,239,212 $9,813,996,074
1961 $764,629,788 $9,225,996,310
1960 $704,751,700 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Singapore and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Singapore South Africa
2024 $90,674 $6,267
2023 $85,412 $6,034
2022 $90,299 $6,534
2021 $80,056 $6,829
2020 $61,410 $5,581
2019 $65,952 $6,534
2018 $66,882 $6,914
2017 $61,236 $6,618
2016 $57,006 $5,651
2015 $55,646 $6,112
2014 $57,565 $6,857
2013 $56,967 $7,332
2012 $55,548 $8,077
2011 $53,891 $8,646
2010 $47,237 $7,973
2009 $38,927 $6,375
2008 $40,009 $6,185
2007 $39,433 $6,592
2006 $33,768 $6,077
2005 $29,961 $5,837
2004 $27,608 $5,221
2003 $23,730 $4,062
2002 $22,160 $2,688
2001 $21,700 $2,847
2000 $23,853 $3,218
1999 $21,797 $3,242
1998 $21,829 $3,310
1997 $26,376 $3,700
1996 $26,233 $3,618
1995 $24,915 $3,856
1994 $21,552 $3,489
1993 $18,290 $3,400
1992 $16,136 $3,462
1991 $14,502 $3,243
1990 $11,862 $3,093
1989 $10,395 $2,727
1988 $8,914 $2,702
1987 $7,539 $2,586
1986 $6,800 $2,027
1985 $7,002 $1,839
1984 $7,228 $2,504
1983 $6,633 $2,938
1982 $6,078 $2,717
1981 $5,597 $3,050
1980 $4,928 $3,029
1979 $3,901 $2,202
1978 $3,194 $1,852
1977 $2,846 $1,671
1976 $2,759 $1,559
1975 $2,490 $1,670
1974 $2,342 $1,656
1973 $1,685 $1,369
1972 $1,264 $1,038
1971 $1,071 $1,020
1970 $926 $952
1969 $813 $891
1968 $709 $817
1967 $626 $779
1966 $567 $722
1965 $517 $685
1964 $486 $646
1963 $511 $605
1962 $472 $563
1961 $449 $546
1960 $428 $532

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

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

Singapore vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Singapore South Africa
2026 84.1 66.7
2025 84 66.5
2024 83.9 66.3
2023 83.7 66.1
2022 82.9 65.5
2021 83.5 62
2020 83.7 65.2
2019 83.7 66.1
2018 83.4 65.7
2017 83.1 65.4
2016 82.9 64.7
2015 82.7 64.1
2014 82.6 63.2
2013 82.5 62.4
2012 82.2 61.7
2011 81.9 60.6
2010 81.6 58.9
2009 81.4 57.4
2008 81.1 56
2007 80.9 54.9
2006 80.6 54.2
2005 80.3 53.9
2004 79.7 54
2003 79.2 54.2
2002 78.7 55.6
2001 78.3 57.2
2000 77.8 58.4
1999 77.3 59.2
1998 76.9 59.9
1997 76.4 60.5
1996 76.1 61.1
1995 75.7 61.6
1994 75.6 62.1
1993 75.5 62.6
1992 75.3 62.8
1991 75.1 63
1990 74.6 62.9
1989 74.3 63
1988 74 62.9
1987 74 62.7
1986 73.6 62.4
1985 73.1 62.2
1984 72.6 61.8
1983 72.4 61.4
1982 72 60.9
1981 71.7 60.4
1980 71.5 60
1979 71.4 59.5
1978 71.2 59
1977 70.9 58.5
1976 70.6 58
1975 70.2 57.6
1974 69.7 57.1
1973 69.4 56.7
1972 69 56.4
1971 68.8 56
1970 68.5 55.7
1969 68.1 55.4
1968 67.7 55.2
1967 67.3 55
1966 67.2 54.7
1965 66.9 54.4
1964 66.7 54.2
1963 66.5 53.9
1962 66.1 53.6
1961 65.7 53.1
1960 65.3 52.6
1959 64.8 51.9
1958 64 51.1
1957 63.4 50.2
1956 62.6 49.2
1955 61.2 48.2
1954 59.4 47.1
1953 57.5 46.1
1952 56.4 45
1951 55.3 44.1
1950 54.1 43.1

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

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

Singapore and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Singapore South Africa
2024 6,036,860 64,007,187
2023 5,917,648 63,212,384
2022 5,637,022 62,378,410
2021 5,453,566 61,502,603
2020 5,685,807 60,562,381
2019 5,703,569 59,587,885
2018 5,638,676 58,613,001
2017 5,612,253 57,635,162
2016 5,607,283 57,259,551
2015 5,535,002 56,723,537
2014 5,469,724 55,594,838
2013 5,399,162 54,678,791
2012 5,312,437 53,782,567
2011 5,183,688 52,995,205
2010 5,076,732 52,344,051
2009 4,987,573 51,728,516
2008 4,839,396 51,114,599
2007 4,588,599 50,528,584
2006 4,401,365 49,998,277
2005 4,265,762 49,490,033
2004 4,166,664 48,991,421
2003 4,114,826 48,500,348
2002 4,175,950 48,019,415
2001 4,138,012 47,566,800
2000 4,027,887 47,159,719
1999 3,958,723 46,730,335
1998 3,927,213 46,223,880
1997 3,796,038 45,666,838
1996 3,670,704 45,123,018
1995 3,524,506 44,541,554
1994 3,419,048 44,004,139
1993 3,313,471 43,297,156
1992 3,230,698 42,443,509
1991 3,135,083 41,687,898
1990 3,047,132 40,746,268
1989 2,930,901 39,628,575
1988 2,846,108 38,480,649
1987 2,774,789 37,326,190
1986 2,733,373 36,180,515
1985 2,735,957 35,042,093
1984 2,732,221 33,892,788
1983 2,681,061 32,739,304
1982 2,646,466 31,615,339
1981 2,532,835 30,541,044
1980 2,413,945 29,518,857
1979 2,383,500 28,634,162
1978 2,353,600 27,869,507
1977 2,325,300 27,118,952
1976 2,293,300 26,395,450
1975 2,262,600 25,690,940
1974 2,229,800 24,989,108
1973 2,193,000 24,294,263
1972 2,152,400 23,609,456
1971 2,112,900 22,942,143
1970 2,074,507 22,279,984
1969 2,042,500 21,614,676
1968 2,012,000 20,957,287
1967 1,977,600 20,314,066
1966 1,934,400 19,690,087
1965 1,886,900 19,089,380
1964 1,841,600 18,511,361
1963 1,795,000 17,954,564
1962 1,750,200 17,418,522
1961 1,702,400 16,908,035
1960 1,646,400 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Singapore and South Africa

Fertility rate
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Singapore South Africa
2023 0.97 2.22
2022 1.04 2.23
2021 1.12 2.25
2020 1.1 2.26
2019 1.14 2.26
2018 1.14 2.27
2017 1.16 2.28
2016 1.2 2.26
2015 1.24 2.36
2014 1.25 2.42
2013 1.19 2.43
2012 1.29 2.45
2011 1.2 2.44
2010 1.15 2.44
2009 1.22 2.5
2008 1.28 2.68
2007 1.29 2.55
2006 1.28 2.55
2005 1.26 2.51
2004 1.26 2.44
2003 1.27 2.36
2002 1.37 2.32
2001 1.41 2.37
2000 1.6 2.41
1999 1.47 2.56
1998 1.48 2.63
1997 1.61 2.73
1996 1.66 2.99
1995 1.67 3.17
1994 1.71 3.26
1993 1.74 3.37
1992 1.72 3.48
1991 1.73 3.62
1990 1.83 3.72
1989 1.75 3.98
1988 1.96 4.18
1987 1.62 4.35
1986 1.43 4.41
1985 1.61 4.5
1984 1.62 4.57
1983 1.61 4.63
1982 1.74 4.7
1981 1.78 4.71
1980 1.82 4.78
1979 1.79 4.82
1978 1.79 4.85
1977 1.82 4.94
1976 2.11 5.07
1975 2.07 5.19
1974 2.35 5.3
1973 2.79 5.41
1972 3.04 5.49
1971 3.02 5.57
1970 3.07 5.63
1969 3.22 5.72
1968 3.53 5.78
1967 3.91 5.85
1966 4.46 5.91
1965 4.66 5.89
1964 4.97 5.96
1963 5.16 6.01
1962 5.21 6.05
1961 5.41 6.08
1960 5.76 6.11

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

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

Singapore and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Singapore

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Singapore South Africa
2024 36.8 29.5
2023 36.2 29.2
2022 35.9 28.9
2021 35.8 28.6
2020 35.5 28.3
2019 35.2 27.9
2018 35 27.5
2017 34.8 27
2016 34.5 26.7
2015 34.4 26.4
2014 34.2 26
2013 34.1 25.7
2012 34 25.3
2011 33.9 25
2010 33.7 24.6
2009 33.6 24.3
2008 33.5 24
2007 33.6 23.8
2006 33.6 23.5
2005 33.5 23.3
2004 33.3 23.1
2003 33 22.8
2002 32.7 22.4
2001 32.5 22.2
2000 32.2 21.9
1999 31.9 21.6
1998 31.6 21.4
1997 31.4 21.2
1996 31.2 21.2
1995 31 21.5
1994 30.7 22
1993 30.4 21.9
1992 30.1 21.5
1991 29.8 21.5
1990 29.5 21.3
1989 29.1 21.1
1988 28.7 20.9
1987 28.3 20.7
1986 27.8 20.5
1985 27.3 20.4
1984 26.9 20.2
1983 26.4 20
1982 25.9 19.8
1981 25.3 19.6
1980 24.7 19.4
1979 24.2 19.3
1978 23.6 19.2
1977 23.1 19.1
1976 22.6 19
1975 22 18.9
1974 21.5 18.9
1973 21 18.8
1972 20.6 18.8
1971 20.1 18.8
1970 19.7 18.8
1969 19.3 18.8
1968 18.9 18.8
1967 18.6 18.8
1966 18.4 18.8
1965 18.2 18.8
1964 18.1 18.9
1963 18 18.9
1962 18 18.9
1961 18.1 19
1960 18.2 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Singapore South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$451B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.6%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.19%
2024
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.84%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
59,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.44%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.74%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
73%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.4%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
84.4
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
331,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
6.65%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
49
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.001%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
400
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$638B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$384B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,742,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.04%
2018
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Singapore South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,283 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$27.2
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
58.9 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.75 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
97.9%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
1.1%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.38%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
279.6%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
9,750 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
4.02%
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

Singapore South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+16,892
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
100%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.7:48.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.69 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
95.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
84
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
96
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.07
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2.1
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
175
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.7%
2021
91.2%
2024
English speaking
96.4%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
94.4%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Singapore South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,922
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$997
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
84.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.83
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.5 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
6
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.1
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
14%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.4%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
68
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.4%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.81 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Singapore South Africa
% of world land
0.0005%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
45.9 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2.55 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
58 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
2,175 mi
2017
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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