Skip to content

South Africa vs Sri Lanka statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 21.9M in Sri Lanka (ranked 61/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 23,884 sq mi for Sri Lanka (ranked 24th vs. 122nd).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Sri Lanka ranks 72/197 ($99B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Sri Lanka ranks 124/197 ($4,516).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Sri Lanka
Population
65683993
22185425
Population rank 24/197 63/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$99B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 72/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$4,516
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 124/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$15,633
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$99.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
100.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$4,554
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 85/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$2,874
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 23,884 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
928 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.97
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
34.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
78 years
2026

South Africa and Sri Lanka: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Sri Lanka
2024 $401,144,998,374 $98,963,185,510
2023 $381,440,724,491 $83,716,142,582
2022 $407,596,043,068 $74,143,020,263
2021 $419,986,284,375 $88,556,698,938
2020 $337,974,655,408 $84,335,574,582
2019 $389,330,032,224 $88,998,706,297
2018 $405,260,723,893 $94,450,015,983
2017 $381,448,814,653 $94,369,350,286
2016 $323,585,509,674 $88,000,211,172
2015 $346,709,790,459 $85,090,301,052
2014 $381,198,869,776 $82,531,125,191
2013 $400,886,013,596 $76,976,203,829
2012 $434,400,545,086 $70,447,217,164
2011 $458,199,494,831 $67,753,285,897
2010 $417,363,822,802 $58,636,049,434
2009 $329,754,060,647 $42,066,224,093
2008 $316,131,258,616 $40,713,826,215
2007 $333,077,117,254 $32,350,238,760
2006 $303,858,675,364 $28,267,410,543
2005 $288,867,217,197 $24,405,791,045
2004 $255,806,908,595 $20,662,525,941
2003 $197,018,965,309 $18,881,765,437
2002 $129,087,556,612 $16,536,535,647
2001 $135,429,905,923 $15,749,753,805
2000 $151,752,757,215 $16,595,882,819
1999 $151,516,957,079 $15,711,933,513
1998 $152,982,984,557 $15,760,736,956
1997 $168,978,057,328 $15,091,913,884
1996 $163,234,925,381 $13,897,738,375
1995 $171,735,933,897 $13,029,697,561
1994 $153,512,712,382 $11,717,604,209
1993 $147,194,747,566 $10,338,679,636
1992 $146,956,150,987 $9,703,011,636
1991 $135,203,698,238 $9,000,362,582
1990 $126,048,140,142 $8,032,551,173
1989 $108,055,624,082 $6,987,267,684
1988 $103,976,831,871 $6,978,371,581
1987 $96,535,763,418 $6,682,167,120
1986 $73,354,771,399 $6,405,210,564
1985 $64,459,376,087 $5,978,460,972
1984 $84,870,163,366 $6,043,474,843
1983 $96,204,110,942 $5,167,913,302
1982 $85,904,057,409 $4,768,765,017
1981 $93,141,472,164 $4,415,844,156
1980 $89,411,864,402 $4,024,621,900
1979 $63,038,658,089 $3,364,611,432
1978 $51,607,412,902 $2,733,183,857
1977 $45,328,411,332 $4,104,509,583
1976 $41,150,460,288 $3,591,319,857
1975 $42,906,905,672 $3,791,298,146
1974 $41,389,186,095 $3,574,586,466
1973 $33,262,772,008 $2,875,625,000
1972 $24,515,919,217 $2,553,936,348
1971 $23,411,076,638 $2,369,308,600
1970 $21,218,391,513 $2,296,470,588
1969 $19,256,992,297 $1,965,546,218
1968 $17,124,793,150 $1,801,344,538
1967 $15,821,393,671 $1,859,465,021
1966 $14,211,394,315 $1,751,470,588
1965 $13,068,994,772 $1,698,319,328
1964 $11,955,995,218 $1,309,747,899
1963 $10,854,195,658 $1,240,672,269
1962 $9,813,996,074 $1,434,156,379
1961 $9,225,996,310 $1,444,327,731
1960 $8,748,596,501 $1,409,873,950

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Africa and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Sri Lanka
2024 $6,267 $4,516
2023 $6,034 $3,799
2022 $6,534 $3,343
2021 $6,829 $3,997
2020 $5,581 $3,848
2019 $6,534 $4,082
2018 $6,914 $4,359
2017 $6,618 $4,399
2016 $5,651 $4,149
2015 $6,112 $4,058
2014 $6,857 $3,972
2013 $7,332 $3,739
2012 $8,077 $3,328
2011 $8,646 $3,225
2010 $7,973 $2,808
2009 $6,375 $2,027
2008 $6,185 $1,974
2007 $6,592 $1,579
2006 $6,077 $1,389
2005 $5,837 $1,207
2004 $5,221 $1,029
2003 $4,062 $946
2002 $2,688 $835
2001 $2,847 $804
2000 $3,218 $860
1999 $3,242 $829
1998 $3,310 $848
1997 $3,700 $827
1996 $3,618 $776
1995 $3,856 $742
1994 $3,489 $678
1993 $3,400 $607
1992 $3,462 $580
1991 $3,243 $546
1990 $3,093 $491
1989 $2,727 $430
1988 $2,702 $434
1987 $2,586 $420
1986 $2,027 $407
1985 $1,839 $385
1984 $2,504 $391
1983 $2,938 $336
1982 $2,717 $312
1981 $3,050 $292.5
1980 $3,029 $271.1
1979 $2,202 $230.8
1978 $1,852 $191
1977 $1,671 $292.1
1976 $1,559 $260.3
1975 $1,670 $279.8
1974 $1,656 $268.7
1973 $1,369 $220.2
1972 $1,038 $199.4
1971 $1,020 $188.8
1970 $952 $186.9
1969 $891 $163.6
1968 $817 $153.5
1967 $779 $162.3
1966 $722 $156.6
1965 $685 $155.6
1964 $646 $122.9
1963 $605 $119.4
1962 $563 $141.4
1961 $546 $145.9
1960 $532 $145.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Africa vs. Sri Lanka life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Sri Lanka
2026 66.7 78
2025 66.5 77.9
2024 66.3 77.7
2023 66.1 77.5
2022 65.5 77.3
2021 62 76.3
2020 65.2 76.9
2019 66.1 76.7
2018 65.7 76.5
2017 65.4 76.2
2016 64.7 76.1
2015 64.1 76
2014 63.2 75.8
2013 62.4 75.5
2012 61.7 75.2
2011 60.6 74.7
2010 58.9 74.5
2009 57.4 70.3
2008 56 72.6
2007 54.9 73
2006 54.2 72.8
2005 53.9 73.1
2004 54 68
2003 54.2 72.4
2002 55.6 72.3
2001 57.2 71.8
2000 58.4 71.2
1999 59.2 70.4
1998 59.9 70.1
1997 60.5 69.9
1996 61.1 69.8
1995 61.6 69.7
1994 62.1 70.2
1993 62.6 70
1992 62.8 69.6
1991 63 69.1
1990 62.9 69.2
1989 63 67.3
1988 62.9 69
1987 62.7 69
1986 62.4 69
1985 62.2 68.9
1984 61.8 68.8
1983 61.4 68.7
1982 60.9 68.7
1981 60.4 68.4
1980 60 68
1979 59.5 67.5
1978 59 66.8
1977 58.5 66.4
1976 58 65.8
1975 57.6 65.4
1974 57.1 65
1973 56.7 64.8
1972 56.4 64.6
1971 56 64.2
1970 55.7 64.4
1969 55.4 64.1
1968 55.2 63.9
1967 55 63.6
1966 54.7 63.2
1965 54.4 62.8
1964 54.2 62.4
1963 53.9 62
1962 53.6 61.6
1961 53.1 61.2
1960 52.6 60.6
1959 51.9 60
1958 51.1 59.3
1957 50.2 58.5
1956 49.2 57.9
1955 48.2 57.2
1954 47.1 56.4
1953 46.1 55.6
1952 45 54.9
1951 44.1 54
1950 43.1 53.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Africa and Sri Lanka population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Population
South Africa Sri Lanka
2024 64,007,187 21,916,000
2023 63,212,384 22,037,000
2022 62,378,410 22,181,000
2021 61,502,603 22,156,000
2020 60,562,381 21,919,000
2019 59,587,885 21,803,000
2018 58,613,001 21,670,000
2017 57,635,162 21,453,000
2016 57,259,551 21,209,000
2015 56,723,537 20,970,000
2014 55,594,838 20,778,000
2013 54,678,791 20,585,000
2012 53,782,567 21,169,458
2011 52,995,205 21,009,048
2010 52,344,051 20,879,089
2009 51,728,516 20,756,435
2008 51,114,599 20,629,378
2007 50,528,584 20,492,545
2006 49,998,277 20,352,411
2005 49,490,033 20,216,524
2004 48,991,421 20,087,605
2003 48,500,348 19,951,521
2002 48,019,415 19,805,752
2001 47,566,800 19,600,362
2000 47,159,719 19,293,054
1999 46,730,335 18,944,731
1998 46,223,880 18,596,003
1997 45,666,838 18,248,200
1996 45,123,018 17,905,018
1995 44,541,554 17,564,068
1994 44,004,139 17,275,773
1993 43,297,156 17,025,918
1992 42,443,509 16,739,284
1991 41,687,898 16,475,354
1990 40,746,268 16,352,458
1989 39,628,575 16,248,557
1988 38,480,649 16,078,621
1987 37,326,190 15,916,576
1986 36,180,515 15,731,256
1985 35,042,093 15,544,154
1984 33,892,788 15,441,860
1983 32,739,304 15,388,794
1982 31,615,339 15,286,567
1981 30,541,044 15,099,414
1980 29,518,857 14,847,974
1979 28,634,162 14,579,614
1978 27,869,507 14,310,128
1977 27,118,952 14,049,371
1976 26,395,450 13,796,770
1975 25,690,940 13,548,984
1974 24,989,108 13,305,693
1973 24,294,263 13,060,916
1972 23,609,456 12,809,205
1971 22,942,143 12,551,910
1970 22,279,984 12,287,110
1969 21,614,676 12,013,858
1968 20,957,287 11,736,088
1967 20,314,066 11,457,328
1966 19,690,087 11,183,928
1965 19,089,380 10,916,965
1964 18,511,361 10,653,397
1963 17,954,564 10,395,040
1962 17,418,522 10,143,754
1961 16,908,035 9,899,372
1960 16,440,172 9,661,389

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

Fertility rates in South Africa and Sri Lanka

Fertility rate
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Sri Lanka
2023 2.22 1.97
2022 2.23 1.98
2021 2.25 2
2020 2.26 2.01
2019 2.26 2.02
2018 2.27 2.03
2017 2.28 2.04
2016 2.26 2.06
2015 2.36 2.09
2014 2.42 2.13
2013 2.43 2.18
2012 2.45 2.17
2011 2.44 2.14
2010 2.44 2.13
2009 2.5 2.18
2008 2.68 2.23
2007 2.55 2.3
2006 2.55 2.29
2005 2.51 2.26
2004 2.44 2.27
2003 2.36 2.3
2002 2.32 2.31
2001 2.37 2.28
2000 2.41 2.21
1999 2.56 2.14
1998 2.63 2.14
1997 2.73 2.22
1996 2.99 2.29
1995 3.17 2.35
1994 3.26 2.4
1993 3.37 2.44
1992 3.48 2.49
1991 3.62 2.51
1990 3.72 2.54
1989 3.98 2.58
1988 4.18 2.57
1987 4.35 2.64
1986 4.41 2.74
1985 4.5 2.9
1984 4.57 3.01
1983 4.63 3.11
1982 4.7 3.32
1981 4.71 3.65
1980 4.78 3.73
1979 4.82 3.82
1978 4.85 3.81
1977 4.94 3.74
1976 5.07 3.78
1975 5.19 3.82
1974 5.3 3.86
1973 5.41 4
1972 5.49 4.16
1971 5.57 4.27
1970 5.63 4.39
1969 5.72 4.5
1968 5.78 4.66
1967 5.85 4.79
1966 5.91 4.83
1965 5.89 4.93
1964 5.96 5.06
1963 6.01 5.12
1962 6.05 5.18
1961 6.08 5.24
1960 6.11 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Africa and Sri Lanka demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Sri Lanka
2024 29.5 34.1
2023 29.2 33.8
2022 28.9 33.6
2021 28.6 33.3
2020 28.3 33.1
2019 27.9 32.8
2018 27.5 32.5
2017 27 32.3
2016 26.7 32
2015 26.4 31.7
2014 26 31.4
2013 25.7 31.1
2012 25.3 30.8
2011 25 30.5
2010 24.6 30.2
2009 24.3 29.9
2008 24 29.6
2007 23.8 29.3
2006 23.5 29
2005 23.3 28.8
2004 23.1 28.5
2003 22.8 28.2
2002 22.4 27.9
2001 22.2 27.6
2000 21.9 27.2
1999 21.6 26.9
1998 21.4 26.5
1997 21.2 26.2
1996 21.2 25.8
1995 21.5 25.3
1994 22 24.9
1993 21.9 24.6
1992 21.5 24.3
1991 21.5 23.9
1990 21.3 23.6
1989 21.1 23.4
1988 20.9 23.1
1987 20.7 22.8
1986 20.5 22.5
1985 20.4 22.2
1984 20.2 22
1983 20 21.9
1982 19.8 21.7
1981 19.6 21.6
1980 19.4 21.5
1979 19.3 21.3
1978 19.2 21.2
1977 19.1 21
1976 19 20.9
1975 18.9 20.7
1974 18.9 20.6
1973 18.8 20.4
1972 18.8 20.2
1971 18.8 20.1
1970 18.8 20
1969 18.8 19.9
1968 18.8 19.8
1967 18.8 19.7
1966 18.8 19.6
1965 18.8 19.5
1964 18.9 19.5
1963 18.9 19.5
1962 18.9 19.5
1961 19 19.5
1960 19 19.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sri-lanka | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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

National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Sri Lanka
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$84.6B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
19.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
1.83%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
317,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-5.64%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
4.67%
2023
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
50.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
30.8%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
3.1%
2019
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
284
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$19.5B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$6.09B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$6.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
540,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
8.22%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
81.7%
2024

Energy

South Africa Sri Lanka
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
474 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$29.9
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
23.3 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
1.06 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
53.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
48.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
6.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
60%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
684 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
49.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
40.8%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Sri Lanka
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.27%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-30,724
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
20.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
48.4:51.6
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.52 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.11 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
51.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
35
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
53
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
3.43
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
19.7
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
55
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
92.7%
2023
English speaking
31%
2023
18.3%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
51.2%
2023

Health

South Africa Sri Lanka
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$134.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$73.6
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
78 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
6.05%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
1.14
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
25.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
18
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
6.1
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
10.9%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
40
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
19.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
2.91 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Sri Lanka
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.04%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
1,090 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
11,610 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
8,122 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
70,894 mi
2010

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) (2000–2025, 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)

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.