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South Africa vs Suriname statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 634K in Suriname (ranked 165/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 61,972 sq mi for Suriname (ranked 24th vs. 90th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Suriname ranks 164/197 ($4.42B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Suriname ranks 102/197 ($6,962).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Suriname
Population
65683993
646767
Population rank 24/197 165/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$4.42B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 164/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$6,962
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 102/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$21,801
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$3.86B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
87.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$6,077
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 74/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$3,263
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 61,972 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
10.4 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
2.25
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
29.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
74 years
2026

South Africa and Suriname: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Suriname economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Suriname
2024 $401,144,998,374 $4,416,775,112
2023 $381,440,724,491 $3,472,693,412
2022 $407,596,043,068 $3,791,603,200
2021 $419,986,284,375 $3,107,923,198
2020 $337,974,655,408 $2,911,807,496
2019 $389,330,032,224 $4,016,040,575
2018 $405,260,723,893 $3,996,198,867
2017 $381,448,814,653 $3,591,679,431
2016 $323,585,509,674 $3,317,421,648
2015 $346,709,790,459 $5,126,237,646
2014 $381,198,869,776 $5,240,606,061
2013 $400,886,013,596 $5,145,757,576
2012 $434,400,545,086 $4,980,000,000
2011 $458,199,494,831 $4,422,276,622
2010 $417,363,822,802 $4,368,370,998
2009 $329,754,060,647 $3,875,409,836
2008 $316,131,258,616 $3,532,969,035
2007 $333,077,117,254 $2,936,612,022
2006 $303,858,675,364 $2,626,380,435
2005 $288,867,217,197 $1,793,410,397
2004 $255,806,908,595 $1,484,092,538
2003 $197,018,965,309 $1,274,190,311
2002 $129,087,556,612 $1,093,574,468
2001 $135,429,905,923 $834,279,358
2000 $151,752,757,215 $947,671,970
1999 $151,516,957,079 $886,290,698
1998 $152,982,984,557 $1,110,850,000
1997 $168,978,057,328 $926,422,500
1996 $163,234,925,381 $861,372,806
1995 $171,735,933,897 $691,590,498
1994 $153,512,712,382 $605,492,537
1993 $147,194,747,566 $428,764,706
1992 $146,956,150,987 $404,600,000
1991 $135,203,698,238 $448,100,000
1990 $126,048,140,142 $388,400,000
1989 $108,055,624,082 $542,600,000
1988 $103,976,831,871 $1,161,000,000
1987 $96,535,763,418 $980,000,000
1986 $73,354,771,399 $891,000,000
1985 $64,459,376,087 $873,000,000
1984 $84,870,163,366 $864,000,000
1983 $96,204,110,942 $883,500,000
1982 $85,904,057,409 $915,000,000
1981 $93,141,472,164 $889,000,000
1980 $89,411,864,402 $795,000,000
1979 $63,038,658,089 $782,500,000
1978 $51,607,412,902 $735,500,000
1977 $45,328,411,332 $641,500,000
1976 $41,150,460,288 $505,500,000
1975 $42,906,905,672 $465,500,000
1974 $41,389,186,095 $409,850,000
1973 $33,262,772,008 $339,450,000
1972 $24,515,919,217 $311,950,000
1971 $23,411,076,638 $301,000,000
1970 $21,218,391,513 $274,900,000
1969 $19,256,992,297 $259,650,000
1968 $17,124,793,150 $241,350,000
1967 $15,821,393,671 $220,700,000
1966 $14,211,394,315 $190,350,000
1965 $13,068,994,772 $154,150,000
1964 $11,955,995,218 $134,400,000
1963 $10,854,195,658 $125,950,000
1962 $9,813,996,074 $116,150,000
1961 $9,225,996,310 $107,700,000
1960 $8,748,596,501 $99,650,000

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

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

South Africa and Suriname economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Suriname
2024 $6,267 $6,962
2023 $6,034 $5,522
2022 $6,534 $6,084
2021 $6,829 $5,030
2020 $5,581 $4,755
2019 $6,534 $6,630
2018 $6,914 $6,666
2017 $6,618 $6,050
2016 $5,651 $5,644
2015 $6,112 $8,814
2014 $6,857 $9,108
2013 $7,332 $9,043
2012 $8,077 $8,851
2011 $8,646 $7,950
2010 $7,973 $7,944
2009 $6,375 $7,130
2008 $6,185 $6,576
2007 $6,592 $5,530
2006 $6,077 $5,003
2005 $5,837 $3,453
2004 $5,221 $2,888
2003 $4,062 $2,516
2002 $2,688 $2,202
2001 $2,847 $1,715
2000 $3,218 $1,988
1999 $3,242 $1,898
1998 $3,310 $2,429
1997 $3,700 $2,068
1996 $3,618 $1,963
1995 $3,856 $1,610
1994 $3,489 $1,434
1993 $3,400 $1,022
1992 $3,462 $969
1991 $3,243 $1,080
1990 $3,093 $942
1989 $2,727 $1,329
1988 $2,702 $2,886
1987 $2,586 $2,469
1986 $2,027 $2,271
1985 $1,839 $2,256
1984 $2,504 $2,261
1983 $2,938 $2,333
1982 $2,717 $2,430
1981 $3,050 $2,368
1980 $3,029 $2,118
1979 $2,202 $2,072
1978 $1,852 $1,928
1977 $1,671 $1,666
1976 $1,559 $1,302
1975 $1,670 $1,190
1974 $1,656 $1,041
1973 $1,369 $858
1972 $1,038 $785
1971 $1,020 $768
1970 $952 $724
1969 $891 $708
1968 $817 $681
1967 $779 $644
1966 $722 $575
1965 $685 $482
1964 $646 $435
1963 $605 $424
1962 $563 $409
1961 $546 $395
1960 $532 $378

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

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

South Africa vs. Suriname life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Suriname
2026 66.7 74
2025 66.5 73.9
2024 66.3 73.8
2023 66.1 73.6
2022 65.5 73.3
2021 62 68.9
2020 65.2 72.3
2019 66.1 71.8
2018 65.7 71.5
2017 65.4 71.2
2016 64.7 71
2015 64.1 70.6
2014 63.2 70.3
2013 62.4 70.1
2012 61.7 70
2011 60.6 69.8
2010 58.9 69.6
2009 57.4 69.3
2008 56 68.9
2007 54.9 68.3
2006 54.2 67.6
2005 53.9 67
2004 54 66.4
2003 54.2 65.8
2002 55.6 65.3
2001 57.2 64.8
2000 58.4 64.4
1999 59.2 64
1998 59.9 63.7
1997 60.5 63.4
1996 61.1 63.1
1995 61.6 62.8
1994 62.1 62.5
1993 62.6 62.4
1992 62.8 62.2
1991 63 62.2
1990 62.9 62.1
1989 63 62
1988 62.9 61.5
1987 62.7 61.3
1986 62.4 61.2
1985 62.2 61.4
1984 61.8 61.2
1983 61.4 61.1
1982 60.9 60.9
1981 60.4 60.8
1980 60 60.7
1979 59.5 60.5
1978 59 60.4
1977 58.5 60.3
1976 58 60.2
1975 57.6 60
1974 57.1 59.9
1973 56.7 59.8
1972 56.4 59.7
1971 56 59.6
1970 55.7 59.5
1969 55.4 59.4
1968 55.2 59.3
1967 55 59.2
1966 54.7 59.2
1965 54.4 59.1
1964 54.2 58.9
1963 53.9 58.5
1962 53.6 58
1961 53.1 57.3
1960 52.6 56.6
1959 51.9 55.9
1958 51.1 55.4
1957 50.2 54.7
1956 49.2 54.1
1955 48.2 53.5
1954 47.1 52.8
1953 46.1 52.1
1952 45 51.4
1951 44.1 51.1
1950 43.1 50.7

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

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

South Africa and Suriname population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year Population
South Africa Suriname
2024 64,007,187 634,431
2023 63,212,384 628,886
2022 62,378,410 623,164
2021 61,502,603 617,896
2020 60,562,381 612,317
2019 59,587,885 605,768
2018 58,613,001 599,513
2017 57,635,162 593,713
2016 57,259,551 587,757
2015 56,723,537 581,627
2014 55,594,838 575,373
2013 54,678,791 569,020
2012 53,782,567 562,633
2011 52,995,205 556,269
2010 52,344,051 549,923
2009 51,728,516 543,568
2008 51,114,599 537,245
2007 50,528,584 531,016
2006 49,998,277 524,997
2005 49,490,033 519,313
2004 48,991,421 513,923
2003 48,500,348 506,414
2002 48,019,415 496,551
2001 47,566,800 486,560
2000 47,159,719 476,643
1999 46,730,335 466,916
1998 46,223,880 457,406
1997 45,666,838 448,067
1996 45,123,018 438,830
1995 44,541,554 429,606
1994 44,004,139 422,375
1993 43,297,156 419,352
1992 42,443,509 417,589
1991 41,687,898 415,013
1990 40,746,268 412,493
1989 39,628,575 408,409
1988 38,480,649 402,227
1987 37,326,190 396,911
1986 36,180,515 392,330
1985 35,042,093 386,972
1984 33,892,788 382,193
1983 32,739,304 378,746
1982 31,615,339 376,555
1981 30,541,044 375,459
1980 29,518,857 375,377
1979 28,634,162 377,602
1978 27,869,507 381,502
1977 27,118,952 385,067
1976 26,395,450 388,289
1975 25,690,940 391,170
1974 24,989,108 393,676
1973 24,294,263 395,772
1972 23,609,456 397,413
1971 22,942,143 391,932
1970 22,279,984 379,442
1969 21,614,676 366,906
1968 20,957,287 354,616
1967 20,314,066 342,679
1966 19,690,087 331,135
1965 19,089,380 320,000
1964 18,511,361 309,041
1963 17,954,564 297,034
1962 17,418,522 283,912
1961 16,908,035 272,791
1960 16,440,172 263,918

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Suriname

Fertility rate
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Suriname
2023 2.22 2.25
2022 2.23 2.27
2021 2.25 2.3
2020 2.26 2.31
2019 2.26 2.35
2018 2.27 2.38
2017 2.28 2.43
2016 2.26 2.5
2015 2.36 2.57
2014 2.42 2.62
2013 2.43 2.65
2012 2.45 2.67
2011 2.44 2.67
2010 2.44 2.69
2009 2.5 2.71
2008 2.68 2.73
2007 2.55 2.74
2006 2.55 2.73
2005 2.51 2.71
2004 2.44 2.74
2003 2.36 2.84
2002 2.32 2.96
2001 2.37 3.06
2000 2.41 3.05
1999 2.56 3.02
1998 2.63 2.99
1997 2.73 2.95
1996 2.99 2.92
1995 3.17 2.9
1994 3.26 2.9
1993 3.37 2.94
1992 3.48 3.01
1991 3.62 3.09
1990 3.72 3.23
1989 3.98 3.39
1988 4.18 3.46
1987 4.35 3.53
1986 4.41 3.61
1985 4.5 3.71
1984 4.57 3.8
1983 4.63 3.87
1982 4.7 3.82
1981 4.71 3.75
1980 4.78 3.79
1979 4.82 3.93
1978 4.85 4.08
1977 4.94 4.26
1976 5.07 4.45
1975 5.19 4.63
1974 5.3 4.81
1973 5.41 5.01
1972 5.49 5.18
1971 5.57 5.36
1970 5.63 5.53
1969 5.72 5.7
1968 5.78 5.86
1967 5.85 6.04
1966 5.91 6.2
1965 5.89 6.32
1964 5.96 6.43
1963 6.01 6.51
1962 6.05 6.57
1961 6.08 6.58
1960 6.11 6.59

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

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

South Africa and Suriname demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Suriname
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Suriname
2024 29.5 29.4
2023 29.2 29.2
2022 28.9 28.9
2021 28.6 28.7
2020 28.3 28.6
2019 27.9 28.3
2018 27.5 28.1
2017 27 27.9
2016 26.7 27.7
2015 26.4 27.5
2014 26 27.3
2013 25.7 27.1
2012 25.3 26.9
2011 25 26.7
2010 24.6 26.5
2009 24.3 26.3
2008 24 26.1
2007 23.8 25.8
2006 23.5 25.6
2005 23.3 25.5
2004 23.1 25.3
2003 22.8 25
2002 22.4 24.7
2001 22.2 24.4
2000 21.9 24
1999 21.6 23.6
1998 21.4 23.2
1997 21.2 22.8
1996 21.2 22.4
1995 21.5 22
1994 22 21.7
1993 21.9 21.5
1992 21.5 21.2
1991 21.5 21
1990 21.3 20.8
1989 21.1 20.6
1988 20.9 20.4
1987 20.7 20.2
1986 20.5 20
1985 20.4 19.7
1984 20.2 19.5
1983 20 19.2
1982 19.8 18.9
1981 19.6 18.7
1980 19.4 18.4
1979 19.3 18.1
1978 19.2 17.9
1977 19.1 17.6
1976 19 17.4
1975 18.9 17
1974 18.9 16.7
1973 18.8 16.3
1972 18.8 16
1971 18.8 15.7
1970 18.8 15.6
1969 18.8 15.6
1968 18.8 15.6
1967 18.8 15.8
1966 18.8 16.1
1965 18.8 16.4
1964 18.9 16.8
1963 18.9 17.3
1962 18.9 17.8
1961 19 18.2
1960 19 18.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Suriname
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$3.61B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
29.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.87%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-2.42%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
7.92%
2016
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
50.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
35.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
53
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
30.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.2%
2022
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
$1.63B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$160M
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
279,000
2017
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
0.78%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
n/a

Energy

South Africa Suriname
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
1,695 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$12.5
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
2.58 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
4.06 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
90.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
14.5%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
10.3%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
12.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
2,897 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
41.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
61%
2023
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
99.6%
2023

Society

South Africa Suriname
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.008%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-967
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
65.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.32 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
46.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
38
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
22
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
7.28
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
15.3
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
86
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
95%
2021
English speaking
31%
2023
87.1%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
78.4%
2023

Health

South Africa Suriname
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$297
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$58.6
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
5.16%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
1.36
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
84
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
16.2
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
29.8%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
13.8%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
63
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
5.93 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Suriname
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.11%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
97,682 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
275.8 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
58,531 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
2,674 mi
2003

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)

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