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South Africa vs South Sudan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 11.9M in South Sudan (ranked 81/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 243,990 sq mi for South Sudan (ranked 24th vs. 41st).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and South Sudan ranks 149/197 ($12B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while South Sudan ranks 175/197 ($1,080).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa South Sudan
Population
65683993
12507858
Population rank 24/197 80/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank 40/197 149/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank 111/197 175/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$1,155
2015
Government debt
$305B
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank 83/185 158/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$1,305
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 243,990 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
51 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
3.86
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
19.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
58 years
2026

South Africa and South Sudan: Comparison Charts

South Africa and South Sudan economies compared

GDP
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year GDP
South Africa South Sudan
2024 $401,144,998,374 -
2023 $381,440,724,491 -
2022 $407,596,043,068 -
2021 $419,986,284,375 -
2020 $337,974,655,408 -
2019 $389,330,032,224 -
2018 $405,260,723,893 -
2017 $381,448,814,653 -
2016 $323,585,509,674 -
2015 $346,709,790,459 $11,997,800,760
2014 $381,198,869,776 $13,962,212,847
2013 $400,886,013,596 $18,426,469,017
2012 $434,400,545,086 $11,931,472,169
2011 $458,199,494,831 $14,907,308,933
2010 $417,363,822,802 $14,602,072,411
2009 $329,754,060,647 $12,231,264,525
2008 $316,131,258,616 $14,586,253,383
2007 $333,077,117,254 -
2006 $303,858,675,364 -
2005 $288,867,217,197 -
2004 $255,806,908,595 -
2003 $197,018,965,309 -
2002 $129,087,556,612 -
2001 $135,429,905,923 -
2000 $151,752,757,215 -
1999 $151,516,957,079 -
1998 $152,982,984,557 -
1997 $168,978,057,328 -
1996 $163,234,925,381 -
1995 $171,735,933,897 -
1994 $153,512,712,382 -
1993 $147,194,747,566 -
1992 $146,956,150,987 -
1991 $135,203,698,238 -
1990 $126,048,140,142 -
1989 $108,055,624,082 -
1988 $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/south-africa/south-sudan | CC BY

South Africa and South Sudan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa South Sudan
2024 $6,267 -
2023 $6,034 -
2022 $6,534 -
2021 $6,829 -
2020 $5,581 -
2019 $6,534 -
2018 $6,914 -
2017 $6,618 -
2016 $5,651 -
2015 $6,112 $1,080
2014 $6,857 $1,243
2013 $7,332 $1,650
2012 $8,077 $1,109
2011 $8,646 $1,449
2010 $7,973 $1,498
2009 $6,375 $1,323
2008 $6,185 $1,654
2007 $6,592 -
2006 $6,077 -
2005 $5,837 -
2004 $5,221 -
2003 $4,062 -
2002 $2,688 -
2001 $2,847 -
2000 $3,218 -
1999 $3,242 -
1998 $3,310 -
1997 $3,700 -
1996 $3,618 -
1995 $3,856 -
1994 $3,489 -
1993 $3,400 -
1992 $3,462 -
1991 $3,243 -
1990 $3,093 -
1989 $2,727 -
1988 $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/south-africa/south-sudan | CC BY

South Africa vs. South Sudan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa South Sudan
2026 66.7 58
2025 66.5 57.9
2024 66.3 57.7
2023 66.1 57.6
2022 65.5 57.2
2021 62 57
2020 65.2 57.6
2019 66.1 58.1
2018 65.7 51.9
2017 65.4 35.4
2016 64.7 36.7
2015 64.1 39.8
2014 63.2 45.6
2013 62.4 58.3
2012 61.7 58.2
2011 60.6 57.7
2010 58.9 57.5
2009 57.4 56.8
2008 56 56.3
2007 54.9 55.4
2006 54.2 54.7
2005 53.9 54
2004 54 53.1
2003 54.2 52.3
2002 55.6 49.4
2001 57.2 48.6
2000 58.4 47.6
1999 59.2 44.5
1998 59.9 19
1997 60.5 33.1
1996 61.1 32.1
1995 61.6 31.5
1994 62.1 44.9
1993 62.6 22.3
1992 62.8 21.9
1991 63 29.2
1990 62.9 28.6
1989 63 28.2
1988 62.9 11
1987 62.7 20.7
1986 62.4 32.8
1985 62.2 32.4
1984 61.8 31.8
1983 61.4 34.7
1982 60.9 38.7
1981 60.4 38.3
1980 60 38
1979 59.5 37.8
1978 59 37.6
1977 58.5 37.4
1976 58 37.1
1975 57.6 36.9
1974 57.1 36.6
1973 56.7 36.3
1972 56.4 31.3
1971 56 31
1970 55.7 25.6
1969 55.4 25.4
1968 55.2 26.1
1967 55 25.9
1966 54.7 25.6
1965 54.4 28.8
1964 54.2 32.5
1963 53.9 28.2
1962 53.6 28.5
1961 53.1 28.3
1960 52.6 28.1
1959 51.9 27.8
1958 51.1 27.6
1957 50.2 30.9
1956 49.2 31.6
1955 48.2 32
1954 47.1 31.7
1953 46.1 31.4
1952 45 31
1951 44.1 30.6
1950 43.1 30.2

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

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

South Africa and South Sudan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year Population
South Africa South Sudan
2024 64,007,187 11,943,408
2023 63,212,384 11,483,374
2022 62,378,410 11,021,177
2021 61,502,603 10,865,780
2020 60,562,381 10,698,467
2019 59,587,885 10,423,384
2018 58,613,001 10,122,977
2017 57,635,162 10,259,154
2016 57,259,551 10,830,102
2015 56,723,537 11,107,561
2014 55,594,838 11,235,073
2013 54,678,791 11,166,275
2012 53,782,567 10,756,240
2011 52,995,205 10,288,109
2010 52,344,051 9,745,953
2009 51,728,516 9,243,556
2008 51,114,599 8,817,647
2007 50,528,584 8,388,788
2006 49,998,277 7,976,526
2005 49,490,033 7,590,143
2004 48,991,421 7,233,041
2003 48,500,348 6,903,127
2002 48,019,415 6,596,806
2001 47,566,800 6,308,391
2000 47,159,719 6,032,267
1999 46,730,335 5,771,628
1998 46,223,880 5,620,068
1997 45,666,838 5,509,136
1996 45,123,018 5,356,925
1995 44,541,554 5,225,836
1994 44,004,139 5,071,184
1993 43,297,156 4,956,002
1992 42,443,509 4,909,749
1991 41,687,898 4,836,677
1990 40,746,268 4,737,633
1989 39,628,575 4,713,229
1988 38,480,649 4,848,029
1987 37,326,190 4,962,395
1986 36,180,515 4,921,240
1985 35,042,093 4,834,296
1984 33,892,788 4,750,627
1983 32,739,304 4,661,574
1982 31,615,339 4,557,686
1981 30,541,044 4,447,272
1980 29,518,857 4,339,030
1979 28,634,162 4,232,605
1978 27,869,507 4,127,657
1977 27,118,952 4,024,032
1976 26,395,450 3,921,910
1975 25,690,940 3,821,494
1974 24,989,108 3,723,259
1973 24,294,263 3,627,383
1972 23,609,456 3,542,497
1971 22,942,143 3,468,646
1970 22,279,984 3,409,614
1969 21,614,676 3,365,533
1968 20,957,287 3,321,528
1967 20,314,066 3,277,648
1966 19,690,087 3,236,423
1965 19,089,380 3,189,835
1964 18,511,361 3,129,918
1963 17,954,564 3,072,669
1962 17,418,522 3,024,308
1961 16,908,035 2,976,724
1960 16,440,172 2,931,559

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and South Sudan

Fertility rate
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa South Sudan
2023 2.22 3.86
2022 2.23 3.96
2021 2.25 4.05
2020 2.26 4.16
2019 2.26 4.26
2018 2.27 4.37
2017 2.28 4.48
2016 2.26 4.58
2015 2.36 4.7
2014 2.42 4.82
2013 2.43 4.94
2012 2.45 5.06
2011 2.44 5.19
2010 2.44 5.32
2009 2.5 5.45
2008 2.68 5.57
2007 2.55 5.7
2006 2.55 5.85
2005 2.51 6.02
2004 2.44 6.19
2003 2.36 6.35
2002 2.32 6.52
2001 2.37 6.65
2000 2.41 6.8
1999 2.56 6.94
1998 2.63 7.08
1997 2.73 7.2
1996 2.99 7.32
1995 3.17 7.34
1994 3.26 7.35
1993 3.37 7.36
1992 3.48 7.37
1991 3.62 7.38
1990 3.72 7.38
1989 3.98 7.37
1988 4.18 7.38
1987 4.35 7.39
1986 4.41 7.38
1985 4.5 7.36
1984 4.57 7.35
1983 4.63 7.34
1982 4.7 7.34
1981 4.71 7.33
1980 4.78 7.33
1979 4.82 7.32
1978 4.85 7.33
1977 4.94 7.33
1976 5.07 7.33
1975 5.19 7.33
1974 5.3 7.31
1973 5.41 7.31
1972 5.49 7.31
1971 5.57 7.3
1970 5.63 7.29
1969 5.72 7.28
1968 5.78 7.26
1967 5.85 7.26
1966 5.91 7.25
1965 5.89 7.22
1964 5.96 7.22
1963 6.01 7.2
1962 6.05 7.2
1961 6.08 7.18
1960 6.11 7.16

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

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

South Africa and South Sudan demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

South Sudan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa South Sudan
2024 29.5 19.4
2023 29.2 19
2022 28.9 18.7
2021 28.6 18.4
2020 28.3 18.2
2019 27.9 17.8
2018 27.5 17.3
2017 27 17.4
2016 26.7 18.2
2015 26.4 18.6
2014 26 19
2013 25.7 19.3
2012 25.3 19.2
2011 25 19
2010 24.6 18.7
2009 24.3 18.4
2008 24 18.2
2007 23.8 18
2006 23.5 17.8
2005 23.3 17.6
2004 23.1 17.4
2003 22.8 17.3
2002 22.4 17.3
2001 22.2 17.3
2000 21.9 17.2
1999 21.6 17.1
1998 21.4 17
1997 21.2 16.9
1996 21.2 16.9
1995 21.5 16.9
1994 22 16.9
1993 21.9 16.9
1992 21.5 17
1991 21.5 17
1990 21.3 17
1989 21.1 17.1
1988 20.9 16.8
1987 20.7 16.5
1986 20.5 16.6
1985 20.4 16.7
1984 20.2 16.8
1983 20 16.8
1982 19.8 16.9
1981 19.6 17
1980 19.4 17.1
1979 19.3 17.1
1978 19.2 17.2
1977 19.1 17.2
1976 19 17.3
1975 18.9 17.4
1974 18.9 17.4
1973 18.8 17.5
1972 18.8 17.5
1971 18.8 17.6
1970 18.8 17.7
1969 18.8 17.9
1968 18.8 18
1967 18.8 18.2
1966 18.8 18.3
1965 18.8 18.3
1964 18.9 18.4
1963 18.9 18.4
1962 18.9 18.5
1961 19 18.5
1960 19 18.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa South Sudan
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$11.7B
2015
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
18.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
1.57%
2016
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.96%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
53,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
+11.7%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
12.3%
2008
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
33.1%
2015
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
41
2025
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
1.8%
2016
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$72.9M
2023
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$1.14B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
0.39%
2018
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
5.83%
2021

Energy

South Africa South Sudan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
69 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$15.1
2015
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
n/a
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
n/a
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
73.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
32.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
0.4%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
-860%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
46.9 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
0.34%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
0%
2021
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
5.4%
2023

Society

South Africa South Sudan
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.15%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+6,145
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
21.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
n/a
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
n/a
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
4.76
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
9
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
14
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
14.1
2012
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
36.7
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
50
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
34.5%
2018
English speaking
31%
2023
94%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
9.27%
2020

Health

South Africa South Sudan
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$72.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$19.7
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
58 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
62.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.04
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
692
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
98.7
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
8.79%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
4.6%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
22
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

South Africa South Sudan
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.42%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
20,429 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
109,449 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
27,633 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
n/a

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 (2015–2024, 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. 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.