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South Africa vs Spain statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 48.8M in Spain (ranked 32/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 192,934 sq mi for Spain (ranked 24th vs. 51st).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Spain ranks 15/197 ($1.73T). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Spain ranks 32/197 ($35,327).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Spain
Population
65683993
48806901
Population rank 24/197 32/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$1.73T
2024
GDP rank 40/197 15/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$35,327
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 32/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$57,965
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$1.75T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
101.6%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$35,909
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 20/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$25,470
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 192,934 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
253 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.12
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
46.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
84.1 years
2026

South Africa and Spain: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Spain economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Spain
2024 $401,144,998,374 $1,725,671,652,742
2023 $381,440,724,491 $1,619,481,980,720
2022 $407,596,043,068 $1,448,850,658,407
2021 $419,986,284,375 $1,461,244,901,853
2020 $337,974,655,408 $1,289,783,836,971
2019 $389,330,032,224 $1,403,496,387,686
2018 $405,260,723,893 $1,431,642,809,327
2017 $381,448,814,653 $1,321,754,088,819
2016 $323,585,509,674 $1,243,015,667,917
2015 $346,709,790,459 $1,206,164,777,553
2014 $381,198,869,776 $1,380,244,561,362
2013 $400,886,013,596 $1,362,186,923,158
2012 $434,400,545,086 $1,330,994,811,670
2011 $458,199,494,831 $1,487,568,659,241
2010 $417,363,822,802 $1,427,989,078,917
2009 $329,754,060,647 $1,496,587,590,848
2008 $316,131,258,616 $1,636,115,447,613
2007 $333,077,117,254 $1,476,746,276,855
2006 $303,858,675,364 $1,261,846,683,275
2005 $288,867,217,197 $1,154,667,551,776
2004 $255,806,908,595 $1,069,829,382,515
2003 $197,018,965,309 $907,963,217,058
2002 $129,087,556,612 $708,938,227,244
2001 $135,429,905,923 $627,798,682,379
2000 $151,752,757,215 $598,102,854,756
1999 $151,516,957,079 $634,394,904,387
1998 $152,982,984,557 $618,731,484,575
1997 $168,978,057,328 $589,739,772,727
1996 $163,234,925,381 $642,251,412,058
1995 $171,735,933,897 $614,170,002,669
1994 $153,512,712,382 $530,183,651,720
1993 $147,194,747,566 $524,700,572,624
1992 $146,956,150,987 $630,465,353,486
1991 $135,203,698,238 $576,753,902,322
1990 $126,048,140,142 $536,175,326,477
1989 $108,055,624,082 $414,460,794,097
1988 $103,976,831,871 $375,891,716,898
1987 $96,535,763,418 $318,520,253,335
1986 $73,354,771,399 $251,141,555,186
1985 $64,459,376,087 $180,664,322,896
1984 $84,870,163,366 $171,979,977,230
1983 $96,204,110,942 $170,829,074,246
1982 $85,904,057,409 $195,856,752,991
1981 $93,141,472,164 $202,663,023,968
1980 $89,411,864,402 $232,600,556,974
1979 $63,038,658,089 $214,448,666,336
1978 $51,607,412,902 $160,484,969,618
1977 $45,328,411,332 $132,354,665,936
1976 $41,150,460,288 $118,422,534,195
1975 $42,906,905,672 $114,695,060,870
1974 $41,389,186,095 $97,204,522,642
1973 $33,262,772,008 $78,583,355,226
1972 $24,515,919,217 $59,090,176,029
1971 $23,411,076,638 $46,586,119,760
1970 $21,218,391,513 $40,963,715,237
1969 $19,256,992,297 $37,090,689,288
1968 $17,124,793,150 $32,394,326,464
1967 $15,821,393,671 $32,570,905,397
1966 $14,211,394,315 $29,559,436,183
1965 $13,068,994,772 $25,479,619,607
1964 $11,955,995,218 $21,966,876,027
1963 $10,854,195,658 $19,631,714,760
1962 $9,813,996,074 $16,609,632,791
1961 $9,225,996,310 $14,238,126,760
1960 $8,748,596,501 $12,424,514,014

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

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

South Africa and Spain economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Spain
2024 $6,267 $35,327
2023 $6,034 $33,493
2022 $6,534 $30,319
2021 $6,829 $30,799
2020 $5,581 $27,234
2019 $6,534 $29,787
2018 $6,914 $30,602
2017 $6,618 $28,381
2016 $5,651 $26,756
2015 $6,112 $25,982
2014 $6,857 $29,708
2013 $7,332 $29,229
2012 $8,077 $28,456
2011 $8,646 $31,825
2010 $7,973 $30,659
2009 $6,375 $32,280
2008 $6,185 $35,603
2007 $6,592 $32,652
2006 $6,077 $28,422
2005 $5,837 $26,451
2004 $5,221 $24,925
2003 $4,062 $21,522
2002 $2,688 $17,111
2001 $2,847 $15,368
2000 $3,218 $14,743
1999 $3,242 $15,708
1998 $3,310 $15,382
1997 $3,700 $14,722
1996 $3,618 $16,101
1995 $3,856 $15,461
1994 $3,489 $13,406
1993 $3,400 $13,330
1992 $3,462 $16,101
1991 $3,243 $14,801
1990 $3,093 $13,795
1989 $2,727 $10,674
1988 $2,702 $9,696
1987 $2,586 $8,234
1986 $2,027 $6,509
1985 $1,839 $4,696
1984 $2,504 $4,487
1983 $2,938 $4,475
1982 $2,717 $5,156
1981 $3,050 $5,367
1980 $3,029 $6,204
1979 $2,202 $5,766
1978 $1,852 $4,353
1977 $1,671 $3,625
1976 $1,559 $3,277
1975 $1,670 $3,208
1974 $1,656 $2,748
1973 $1,369 $2,246
1972 $1,038 $1,708
1971 $1,020 $1,361
1970 $952 $1,211
1969 $891 $1,109
1968 $817 $978
1967 $779 $997
1966 $722 $916
1965 $685 $797
1964 $646 $695
1963 $605 $627
1962 $563 $535
1961 $546 $463
1960 $532 $408

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

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

South Africa vs. Spain life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Spain
2026 66.7 84.1
2025 66.5 84
2024 66.3 83.8
2023 66.1 83.7
2022 65.5 82.4
2021 62 83
2020 65.2 82.2
2019 66.1 83.5
2018 65.7 83.1
2017 65.4 83
2016 64.7 83
2015 64.1 82.6
2014 63.2 82.8
2013 62.4 82.7
2012 61.7 82.2
2011 60.6 82.2
2010 58.9 82
2009 57.4 81.6
2008 56 81.3
2007 54.9 81
2006 54.2 81
2005 53.9 80.3
2004 54 80.3
2003 54.2 79.7
2002 55.6 79.8
2001 57.2 79.7
2000 58.4 79.4
1999 59.2 78.9
1998 59.9 78.9
1997 60.5 78.9
1996 61.1 78.3
1995 61.6 78.2
1994 62.1 78.1
1993 62.6 77.7
1992 62.8 77.6
1991 63 77.1
1990 62.9 77
1989 63 77
1988 62.9 76.9
1987 62.7 77
1986 62.4 76.7
1985 62.2 76.4
1984 61.8 76.5
1983 61.4 76.1
1982 60.9 76.3
1981 60.4 75.7
1980 60 75.5
1979 59.5 75
1978 59 74.5
1977 58.5 74.3
1976 58 73.8
1975 57.6 73.5
1974 57.1 73.1
1973 56.7 72.7
1972 56.4 73
1971 56 71.7
1970 55.7 72.1
1969 55.4 71.1
1968 55.2 71.7
1967 55 71.3
1966 54.7 71.2
1965 54.4 70.9
1964 54.2 70.5
1963 53.9 69.8
1962 53.6 69.6
1961 53.1 69.6
1960 52.6 69.2
1959 51.9 68.7
1958 51.1 68.8
1957 50.2 66.6
1956 49.2 66.8
1955 48.2 66.7
1954 47.1 66.9
1953 46.1 65.7
1952 45 64.8
1951 44.1 61.5
1950 43.1 61.8

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

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

South Africa and Spain population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year Population
South Africa Spain
2024 64,007,187 48,848,840
2023 63,212,384 48,352,528
2022 62,378,410 47,786,102
2021 61,502,603 47,443,821
2020 60,562,381 47,359,424
2019 59,587,885 47,118,501
2018 58,613,001 46,782,011
2017 57,635,162 46,571,232
2016 57,259,551 46,458,139
2015 56,723,537 46,422,303
2014 55,594,838 46,460,733
2013 54,678,791 46,604,197
2012 53,782,567 46,773,055
2011 52,995,205 46,742,697
2010 52,344,051 46,576,897
2009 51,728,516 46,362,946
2008 51,114,599 45,954,106
2007 50,528,584 45,226,803
2006 49,998,277 44,397,319
2005 49,490,033 43,653,155
2004 48,991,421 42,921,895
2003 48,500,348 42,187,645
2002 48,019,415 41,431,558
2001 47,566,800 40,850,412
2000 47,159,719 40,567,864
1999 46,730,335 40,386,875
1998 46,223,880 40,223,509
1997 45,666,838 40,057,389
1996 45,123,018 39,889,852
1995 44,541,554 39,724,050
1994 44,004,139 39,549,108
1993 43,297,156 39,361,262
1992 42,443,509 39,157,685
1991 41,687,898 38,966,376
1990 40,746,268 38,867,322
1989 39,628,575 38,827,764
1988 38,480,649 38,766,939
1987 37,326,190 38,684,815
1986 36,180,515 38,584,624
1985 35,042,093 38,469,512
1984 33,892,788 38,330,364
1983 32,739,304 38,171,525
1982 31,615,339 37,986,012
1981 30,541,044 37,758,631
1980 29,518,857 37,491,165
1979 28,634,162 37,191,330
1978 27,869,507 36,864,898
1977 27,118,952 36,511,638
1976 26,395,450 36,137,812
1975 25,690,940 35,757,900
1974 24,989,108 35,373,335
1973 24,294,263 34,988,947
1972 23,609,456 34,604,469
1971 22,942,143 34,224,490
1970 22,279,984 33,814,531
1969 21,614,676 33,441,054
1968 20,957,287 33,113,134
1967 20,314,066 32,682,947
1966 19,690,087 32,283,194
1965 19,089,380 31,954,292
1964 18,511,361 31,609,195
1963 17,954,564 31,296,651
1962 17,418,522 31,023,366
1961 16,908,035 30,739,250
1960 16,440,172 30,455,000

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Spain

Fertility rate
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Spain
2023 2.22 1.12
2022 2.23 1.16
2021 2.25 1.18
2020 2.26 1.18
2019 2.26 1.23
2018 2.27 1.26
2017 2.28 1.31
2016 2.26 1.33
2015 2.36 1.33
2014 2.42 1.32
2013 2.43 1.27
2012 2.45 1.32
2011 2.44 1.34
2010 2.44 1.37
2009 2.5 1.38
2008 2.68 1.45
2007 2.55 1.38
2006 2.55 1.36
2005 2.51 1.33
2004 2.44 1.31
2003 2.36 1.3
2002 2.32 1.25
2001 2.37 1.23
2000 2.41 1.22
1999 2.56 1.17
1998 2.63 1.13
1997 2.73 1.15
1996 2.99 1.14
1995 3.17 1.16
1994 3.26 1.19
1993 3.37 1.26
1992 3.48 1.31
1991 3.62 1.33
1990 3.72 1.36
1989 3.98 1.4
1988 4.18 1.45
1987 4.35 1.49
1986 4.41 1.56
1985 4.5 1.64
1984 4.57 1.73
1983 4.63 1.8
1982 4.7 1.94
1981 4.71 2.04
1980 4.78 2.22
1979 4.82 2.37
1978 4.85 2.54
1977 4.94 2.65
1976 5.07 2.77
1975 5.19 2.77
1974 5.3 2.88
1973 5.41 2.84
1972 5.49 2.87
1971 5.57 2.9
1970 5.63 2.84
1969 5.72 2.86
1968 5.78 2.87
1967 5.85 2.94
1966 5.91 2.91
1965 5.89 2.94
1964 5.96 3.01
1963 6.01 2.88
1962 6.05 2.8
1961 6.08 2.77
1960 6.11 2.86

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

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

South Africa and Spain demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Spain
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Spain
2024 29.5 46.4
2023 29.2 45.9
2022 28.9 45.4
2021 28.6 44.9
2020 28.3 44.5
2019 27.9 44.1
2018 27.5 43.8
2017 27 43.5
2016 26.7 43.1
2015 26.4 42.7
2014 26 42.2
2013 25.7 41.7
2012 25.3 41.1
2011 25 40.6
2010 24.6 40.2
2009 24.3 39.8
2008 24 39.4
2007 23.8 39.2
2006 23.5 39
2005 23.3 38.8
2004 23.1 38.5
2003 22.8 38.3
2002 22.4 38.1
2001 22.2 37.8
2000 21.9 37.4
1999 21.6 37
1998 21.4 36.6
1997 21.2 36.2
1996 21.2 35.7
1995 21.5 35.3
1994 22 34.9
1993 21.9 34.6
1992 21.5 34.2
1991 21.5 33.9
1990 21.3 33.6
1989 21.1 33.2
1988 20.9 32.9
1987 20.7 32.5
1986 20.5 32.2
1985 20.4 31.9
1984 20.2 31.6
1983 20 31.4
1982 19.8 31.1
1981 19.6 30.9
1980 19.4 30.7
1979 19.3 30.6
1978 19.2 30.4
1977 19.1 30.2
1976 19 30.1
1975 18.9 30
1974 18.9 30
1973 18.8 30
1972 18.8 30
1971 18.8 30.1
1970 18.8 30.1
1969 18.8 30.2
1968 18.8 30.4
1967 18.8 30.4
1966 18.8 30.3
1965 18.8 30.2
1964 18.9 30.1
1963 18.9 29.9
1962 18.9 29.7
1961 19 29.6
1960 19 29.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Spain
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$1.64T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
45.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
4.59%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
199,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-3.15%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
11.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
68.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
19.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
66.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
24.5%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.2%
2023
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
1,202,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
3.01%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
34
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.00009%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
277
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$754B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$108B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$6.33B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
36,410,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
19.8%
1998
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
98.4%
2024

Energy

South Africa Spain
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
2,294 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$24.3
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
220.1 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
4.51 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
68.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
25.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
77%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
5,118 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
47%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
10.9%
2023
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
19.9%
2023
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Spain
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.6%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+96,630
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
80.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.1:50.9
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.78 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
82.5
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
55
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
90
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
3.9
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
173
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
99.7%
2021
English speaking
31%
2023
22%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
95.8%
2024

Health

South Africa Spain
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$3,107
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$648
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
84.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
4.29
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
31.5 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
3.1
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
16.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
9.7%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
77
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
28.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
9.16 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Spain
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
3,950 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
95,648 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
71,757 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
424,505 mi
2020

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) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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