Skip to content

Somalia vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Somalia has a population of 19M (ranked 68/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Somalia's land area is 242,217 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 42nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Somalia ranks 150/197 ($12B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Somalia ranks 192/197 ($630), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Somalia South Africa
Population
20503678
65683993
Population rank 66/197 24/197
GDP
$12B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 150/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$630
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 192/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,602
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt n/a
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
76%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,885
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 242,217 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
83.9 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.13
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
16.6 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
59.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Somalia and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Somalia and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Somalia South Africa
2024 $11,967,000,000 $401,144,998,374
2023 $10,958,000,000 $381,440,724,491
2022 $10,203,000,000 $407,596,043,068
2021 $9,483,000,000 $419,986,284,375
2020 $8,628,000,000 $337,974,655,408
2019 $8,656,000,000 $389,330,032,224
2018 $7,873,000,000 $405,260,723,893
2017 $7,621,501,710 $381,448,814,653
2016 $6,613,743,070 $323,585,509,674
2015 $6,152,149,100 $346,709,790,459
2014 $5,728,399,720 $381,198,869,776
2013 $5,062,881,600 $400,886,013,596
2012 $4,364,670,160 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,906,000,097 $458,199,494,831
2010 $2,687,807,004 $417,363,822,802
2009 $2,948,594,552 $329,754,060,647
2008 $5,913,620,293 $316,131,258,616
2007 $5,430,713,729 $333,077,117,254
2006 $5,026,743,282 $303,858,675,364
2005 $4,683,246,454 $288,867,217,197
2004 $3,859,592,813 $255,806,908,595
2003 $2,836,724,352 $197,018,965,309
2002 $2,192,684,135 $129,087,556,612
2001 $2,252,847,465 $135,429,905,923
2000 $3,412,797,450 $151,752,757,215
1999 $3,045,751,528 $151,516,957,079
1998 $2,962,047,564 $152,982,984,557
1997 $2,191,749,014 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,792,234,297 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,534,756,135 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,481,205,098 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,260,132,956 $147,194,747,566
1992 $709,297,579 $146,956,150,987
1991 $717,974,930 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,031,282,081 $126,048,140,142
1989 $1,181,360,844 $108,055,624,082
1988 $1,051,596,967 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,018,972,664 $96,535,763,418
1986 $916,590,786 $73,354,771,399
1985 $875,702,247 $64,459,376,087
1984 $787,434,542 $84,870,163,366
1983 $735,408,642 $96,204,110,942
1982 $774,578,932 $85,904,057,409
1981 $699,302,473 $93,141,472,164
1980 $602,515,548 $89,411,864,402
1979 $589,566,929 $63,038,658,089
1978 $564,571,823 $51,607,412,902
1977 $498,550,725 $45,328,411,332
1976 $871,344,245 $41,150,460,288
1975 $757,015,879 $42,906,905,672
1974 $572,504,036 $41,389,186,095
1973 $483,699,611 $33,262,772,008
1972 $447,883,941 $24,515,919,217
1971 $347,039,446 $23,411,076,638
1970 $347,985,394 $21,218,391,513
1969 $306,357,285 $19,256,992,297
1968 $286,719,885 $17,124,793,150
1967 $271,781,887 $15,821,393,671
1966 $257,375,897 $14,211,394,315
1965 $243,725,898 $13,068,994,772
1964 $229,529,913 $11,955,995,218
1963 $216,145,936 $10,854,195,658
1962 $203,531,928 $9,813,996,074
1961 $191,659,914 $9,225,996,310
1960 $180,459,937 $8,748,596,501

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

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

Somalia and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Somalia South Africa
2024 $630 $6,267
2023 $597 $6,034
2022 $573 $6,534
2021 $549 $6,829
2020 $518 $5,581
2019 $540 $6,534
2018 $509 $6,914
2017 $511 $6,618
2016 $461 $5,651
2015 $446 $6,112
2014 $429 $6,857
2013 $393 $7,332
2012 $350 $8,077
2011 $235.3 $8,646
2010 $219.2 $7,973
2009 $246.5 $6,375
2008 $507 $6,185
2007 $480 $6,592
2006 $458 $6,077
2005 $440 $5,837
2004 $375 $5,221
2003 $286.3 $4,062
2002 $229.6 $2,688
2001 $244.9 $2,847
2000 $386 $3,218
1999 $359 $3,242
1998 $363 $3,310
1997 $280.1 $3,700
1996 $237.2 $3,618
1995 $210.7 $3,856
1994 $210.8 $3,489
1993 $188.6 $3,400
1992 $109.2 $3,462
1991 $105.4 $3,243
1990 $145.6 $3,093
1989 $166 $2,727
1988 $145.3 $2,702
1987 $141 $2,586
1986 $131.4 $2,027
1985 $130.8 $1,839
1984 $122.5 $2,504
1983 $118.6 $2,938
1982 $129 $2,717
1981 $116.9 $3,050
1980 $101.5 $3,029
1979 $108.2 $2,202
1978 $117.3 $1,852
1977 $111.2 $1,671
1976 $199.6 $1,559
1975 $177.8 $1,670
1974 $137.9 $1,656
1973 $119.6 $1,369
1972 $113.7 $1,038
1971 $90.4 $1,020
1970 $93.1 $952
1969 $84.1 $891
1968 $80.8 $817
1967 $78.7 $779
1966 $76.5 $722
1965 $74.4 $685
1964 $71.9 $646
1963 $69.5 $605
1962 $67.2 $563
1961 $64.9 $546
1960 $62.7 $532

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

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

Somalia vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Somalia South Africa
2026 59.3 66.7
2025 59.1 66.5
2024 59 66.3
2023 58.8 66.1
2022 53.9 65.5
2021 55.7 62
2020 57.1 65.2
2019 57.2 66.1
2018 54.8 65.7
2017 52.2 65.4
2016 55.3 64.7
2015 55.1 64.1
2014 54.4 63.2
2013 54 62.4
2012 49.1 61.7
2011 32.5 60.6
2010 48.9 58.9
2009 52.1 57.4
2008 51.5 56
2007 50.9 54.9
2006 50.9 54.2
2005 50.9 53.9
2004 50.7 54
2003 50.7 54.2
2002 50.8 55.6
2001 50.8 57.2
2000 50.7 58.4
1999 50.6 59.2
1998 50.8 59.9
1997 50.3 60.5
1996 50.5 61.1
1995 50.6 61.6
1994 50.3 62.1
1993 50.6 62.6
1992 25 62.8
1991 25.4 63
1990 46.9 62.9
1989 46.6 63
1988 43.9 62.9
1987 49 62.7
1986 48.4 62.4
1985 48.3 62.2
1984 48.4 61.8
1983 48.2 61.4
1982 48 60.9
1981 47.8 60.4
1980 47.6 60
1979 47.4 59.5
1978 47 59
1977 47 58.5
1976 44.7 58
1975 44.5 57.6
1974 44.3 57.1
1973 46.2 56.7
1972 46 56.4
1971 45.8 56
1970 45.6 55.7
1969 45.5 55.4
1968 45.3 55.2
1967 45.1 55
1966 44.8 54.7
1965 44.6 54.4
1964 44.4 54.2
1963 44.2 53.9
1962 44 53.6
1961 43.7 53.1
1960 43.5 52.6
1959 43.3 51.9
1958 43.1 51.1
1957 42.9 50.2
1956 42.7 49.2
1955 42.5 48.2
1954 42.3 47.1
1953 42.1 46.1
1952 41.9 45
1951 41.7 44.1
1950 41.5 43.1

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

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

Somalia and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Somalia South Africa
2024 19,009,151 64,007,187
2023 18,358,615 63,212,384
2022 17,801,897 62,378,410
2021 17,271,431 61,502,603
2020 16,651,191 60,562,381
2019 16,030,971 59,587,885
2018 15,452,487 58,613,001
2017 14,916,629 57,635,162
2016 14,348,740 57,259,551
2015 13,806,963 56,723,537
2014 13,339,491 55,594,838
2013 12,869,594 54,678,791
2012 12,461,160 53,782,567
2011 12,348,830 52,995,205
2010 12,261,756 52,344,051
2009 11,961,201 51,728,516
2008 11,663,084 51,114,599
2007 11,322,582 50,528,584
2006 10,975,502 49,998,277
2005 10,644,228 49,490,033
2004 10,280,998 48,991,421
2003 9,909,157 48,500,348
2002 9,550,063 48,019,415
2001 9,198,493 47,566,800
2000 8,838,713 47,159,719
1999 8,492,059 46,730,335
1998 8,155,417 46,223,880
1997 7,824,525 45,666,838
1996 7,554,474 45,123,018
1995 7,285,007 44,541,554
1994 7,026,797 44,004,139
1993 6,681,399 43,297,156
1992 6,495,107 42,443,509
1991 6,813,760 41,687,898
1990 7,082,811 40,746,268
1989 7,114,817 39,628,575
1988 7,235,360 38,480,649
1987 7,228,302 37,326,190
1986 6,974,788 36,180,515
1985 6,693,289 35,042,093
1984 6,428,389 33,892,788
1983 6,198,430 32,739,304
1982 6,003,840 31,615,339
1981 5,982,849 30,541,044
1980 5,936,154 29,518,857
1979 5,449,117 28,634,162
1978 4,814,892 27,869,507
1977 4,484,050 27,118,952
1976 4,365,812 26,395,450
1975 4,257,535 25,690,940
1974 4,151,842 24,989,108
1973 4,045,592 24,294,263
1972 3,939,436 23,609,456
1971 3,837,691 22,942,143
1970 3,738,448 22,279,984
1969 3,641,015 21,614,676
1968 3,546,590 20,957,287
1967 3,454,537 20,314,066
1966 3,365,106 19,690,087
1965 3,277,874 19,089,380
1964 3,192,796 18,511,361
1963 3,110,361 17,954,564
1962 3,030,091 17,418,522
1961 2,952,054 16,908,035
1960 2,876,331 16,440,172

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

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

Fertility rates in Somalia and South Africa

Fertility rate
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Somalia South Africa
2023 6.13 2.22
2022 6.26 2.23
2021 6.35 2.25
2020 6.45 2.26
2019 6.56 2.26
2018 6.66 2.27
2017 6.77 2.28
2016 6.88 2.26
2015 6.98 2.36
2014 7.06 2.42
2013 7.14 2.43
2012 7.21 2.45
2011 7.27 2.44
2010 7.32 2.44
2009 7.38 2.5
2008 7.42 2.68
2007 7.46 2.55
2006 7.49 2.55
2005 7.53 2.51
2004 7.57 2.44
2003 7.6 2.36
2002 7.63 2.32
2001 7.64 2.37
2000 7.65 2.41
1999 7.66 2.56
1998 7.66 2.63
1997 7.66 2.73
1996 7.62 2.99
1995 7.58 3.17
1994 7.54 3.26
1993 7.53 3.37
1992 7.5 3.48
1991 7.47 3.62
1990 7.44 3.72
1989 7.42 3.98
1988 7.4 4.18
1987 7.37 4.35
1986 7.35 4.41
1985 7.33 4.5
1984 7.3 4.57
1983 7.28 4.63
1982 7.25 4.7
1981 7.23 4.71
1980 7.18 4.78
1979 7.16 4.82
1978 7.13 4.85
1977 7 4.94
1976 7.02 5.07
1975 7.03 5.19
1974 7.06 5.3
1973 7.09 5.41
1972 7.12 5.49
1971 7.15 5.57
1970 7.18 5.63
1969 7.21 5.72
1968 7.23 5.78
1967 7.25 5.85
1966 7.26 5.91
1965 7.26 5.89
1964 7.26 5.96
1963 7.26 6.01
1962 7.26 6.05
1961 7.25 6.08
1960 7.25 6.11

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

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

Somalia and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Somalia

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Somalia South Africa
2024 16.6 29.5
2023 16.5 29.2
2022 16.5 28.9
2021 16.4 28.6
2020 16.3 28.3
2019 16.3 27.9
2018 16.2 27.5
2017 16.2 27
2016 16.1 26.7
2015 16.1 26.4
2014 16 26
2013 16 25.7
2012 16 25.3
2011 15.8 25
2010 15.7 24.6
2009 15.6 24.3
2008 15.6 24
2007 15.6 23.8
2006 15.7 23.5
2005 15.9 23.3
2004 16 23.1
2003 16.1 22.8
2002 16.2 22.4
2001 16.2 22.2
2000 16.3 21.9
1999 16.3 21.6
1998 16.4 21.4
1997 16.4 21.2
1996 16.5 21.2
1995 16.6 21.5
1994 16.7 22
1993 16.8 21.9
1992 16.7 21.5
1991 16.5 21.5
1990 16.5 21.3
1989 16.7 21.1
1988 16.8 20.9
1987 17 20.7
1986 17.1 20.5
1985 17.2 20.4
1984 17.3 20.2
1983 17.4 20
1982 17.4 19.8
1981 17.5 19.6
1980 17.6 19.4
1979 17.6 19.3
1978 17.7 19.2
1977 17.7 19.1
1976 17.7 19
1975 17.7 18.9
1974 17.7 18.9
1973 17.6 18.8
1972 17.6 18.8
1971 17.6 18.8
1970 17.5 18.8
1969 17.5 18.8
1968 17.5 18.8
1967 17.5 18.8
1966 17.5 18.8
1965 17.5 18.8
1964 17.6 18.9
1963 17.7 18.9
1962 17.8 18.9
1961 17.9 19
1960 18.1 19

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Somalia South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
13%
2025
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.000008%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.59%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
14,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.47%
2025
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
11.1%
2022
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
9.66%
1986
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
29
2025
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 n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$23.1M
1989
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$2.12B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
38.7%
2014
81.1%
2024

Energy

Somalia South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.87 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.05 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
95.4%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
11.2%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
50.3%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Somalia South Africa
% of world population
0.23%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+12,077
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
54.6%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.1:49.9
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.62 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.25 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
8.53
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
9
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
11
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.31
2015
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
27.4
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
43
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
54.1%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
2%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
27.6%
2022
75.7%
2023

Health

Somalia South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$22.4
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$6.89
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
59.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
54.4%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.05
2014
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
563
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
104
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
14.9%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
35
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Somalia South Africa
% of world land
0.42%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
12,742 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
170,384 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
22,200 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,321 mi
2018
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (2024–2025, 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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.