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South Africa vs Sweden statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 10.6M in Sweden (ranked 93/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 157,248 sq mi for Sweden (ranked 24th vs. 58th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Sweden ranks 26/197 ($604B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Sweden ranks 17/197 ($57,117).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Sweden
Population
65683993
10680056
Population rank 24/197 91/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$604B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 26/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$57,117
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 17/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$71,845
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$199B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
33%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$18,842
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 32/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$42,066
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 157,248 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
67.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.45
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
83.7 years
2026

South Africa and Sweden: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Sweden economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Sweden
2024 $401,144,998,374 $603,715,224,266
2023 $381,440,724,491 $578,990,915,246
2022 $407,596,043,068 $575,071,237,641
2021 $419,986,284,375 $631,693,331,301
2020 $337,974,655,408 $544,265,668,452
2019 $389,330,032,224 $530,894,124,494
2018 $405,260,723,893 $549,649,344,043
2017 $381,448,814,653 $535,172,356,785
2016 $323,585,509,674 $513,058,312,951
2015 $346,709,790,459 $501,602,351,912
2014 $381,198,869,776 $577,727,767,304
2013 $400,886,013,596 $584,125,353,119
2012 $434,400,545,086 $549,739,674,655
2011 $458,199,494,831 $570,538,581,144
2010 $417,363,822,802 $492,750,897,239
2009 $329,754,060,647 $434,311,714,442
2008 $316,131,258,616 $514,614,100,833
2007 $333,077,117,254 $490,047,789,548
2006 $303,858,675,364 $422,528,394,459
2005 $288,867,217,197 $391,688,455,929
2004 $255,806,908,595 $384,545,442,175
2003 $197,018,965,309 $334,072,443,516
2002 $129,087,556,612 $267,371,907,447
2001 $135,429,905,923 $242,497,797,485
2000 $151,752,757,215 $262,903,560,280
1999 $151,516,957,079 $274,318,357,862
1998 $152,982,984,557 $270,887,306,759
1997 $168,978,057,328 $268,249,616,891
1996 $163,234,925,381 $291,949,597,375
1995 $171,735,933,897 $267,050,453,507
1994 $153,512,712,382 $228,699,066,874
1993 $147,194,747,566 $212,644,602,616
1992 $146,956,150,987 $283,908,914,454
1991 $135,203,698,238 $273,831,464,572
1990 $126,048,140,142 $261,466,577,009
1989 $108,055,624,082 $217,632,340,195
1988 $103,976,831,871 $206,686,590,776
1987 $96,535,763,418 $182,744,315,974
1986 $73,354,771,399 $150,279,869,729
1985 $64,459,376,087 $113,958,084,357
1984 $84,870,163,366 $109,043,045,407
1983 $96,204,110,942 $104,862,109,663
1982 $85,904,057,409 $114,214,731,799
1981 $93,141,472,164 $129,498,921,476
1980 $89,411,864,402 $141,886,067,004
1979 $63,038,658,089 $123,207,527,699
1978 $51,607,412,902 $104,290,933,496
1977 $45,328,411,332 $94,331,782,622
1976 $41,150,460,288 $89,232,517,046
1975 $42,906,905,672 $82,765,232,648
1974 $41,389,186,095 $65,917,634,590
1973 $33,262,772,008 $59,318,842,992
1972 $24,515,919,217 $48,883,173,400
1971 $23,411,076,638 $41,506,151,115
1970 $21,218,391,513 $38,037,226,668
1969 $19,256,992,297 $33,967,301,561
1968 $17,124,793,150 $31,277,871,669
1967 $15,821,393,671 $29,474,881,506
1966 $14,211,394,315 $27,154,716,721
1965 $13,068,994,772 $24,963,947,415
1964 $11,955,995,218 $22,685,490,195
1963 $10,854,195,658 $20,342,131,882
1962 $9,813,996,074 $18,794,066,990
1961 $9,225,996,310 $17,329,620,585
1960 $8,748,596,501 $15,930,075,467

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

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

South Africa and Sweden economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Sweden
2024 $6,267 $57,117
2023 $6,034 $54,950
2022 $6,534 $54,837
2021 $6,829 $60,648
2020 $5,581 $52,569
2019 $6,534 $51,649
2018 $6,914 $54,018
2017 $6,618 $53,210
2016 $5,651 $51,704
2015 $6,112 $51,188
2014 $6,857 $59,583
2013 $7,332 $60,844
2012 $8,077 $57,750
2011 $8,646 $60,379
2010 $7,973 $52,543
2009 $6,375 $46,708
2008 $6,185 $55,817
2007 $6,592 $53,568
2006 $6,077 $46,531
2005 $5,837 $43,378
2004 $5,221 $42,758
2003 $4,062 $37,292
2002 $2,688 $29,958
2001 $2,847 $27,259
2000 $3,218 $29,633
1999 $3,242 $30,969
1998 $3,310 $30,605
1997 $3,700 $30,324
1996 $3,618 $33,022
1995 $3,856 $30,254
1994 $3,489 $26,046
1993 $3,400 $24,390
1992 $3,462 $32,753
1991 $3,243 $31,777
1990 $3,093 $30,549
1989 $2,727 $25,625
1988 $2,702 $24,499
1987 $2,586 $21,761
1986 $2,027 $17,955
1985 $1,839 $13,647
1984 $2,504 $13,080
1983 $2,938 $12,590
1982 $2,717 $13,719
1981 $3,050 $15,564
1980 $3,029 $17,073
1979 $2,202 $14,856
1978 $1,852 $12,602
1977 $1,671 $11,432
1976 $1,559 $10,853
1975 $1,670 $10,103
1974 $1,656 $8,078
1973 $1,369 $7,291
1972 $1,038 $6,018
1971 $1,020 $5,125
1970 $952 $4,729
1969 $891 $4,263
1968 $817 $3,953
1967 $779 $3,746
1966 $722 $3,478
1965 $685 $3,228
1964 $646 $2,961
1963 $605 $2,675
1962 $563 $2,485
1961 $546 $2,304
1960 $532 $2,128

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

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

South Africa vs. Sweden life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Sweden
2026 66.7 83.7
2025 66.5 83.6
2024 66.3 83.4
2023 66.1 83.3
2022 65.5 83
2021 62 83
2020 65.2 82.4
2019 66.1 83.1
2018 65.7 82.5
2017 65.4 82.4
2016 64.7 82.3
2015 64.1 82.2
2014 63.2 82.2
2013 62.4 81.9
2012 61.7 81.7
2011 60.6 81.8
2010 58.9 81.5
2009 57.4 81.4
2008 56 81.1
2007 54.9 81
2006 54.2 80.8
2005 53.9 80.6
2004 54 80.5
2003 54.2 80.2
2002 55.6 79.9
2001 57.2 79.8
2000 58.4 79.7
1999 59.2 79.5
1998 59.9 79.4
1997 60.5 79.3
1996 61.1 79
1995 61.6 78.8
1994 62.1 78.7
1993 62.6 78.1
1992 62.8 78.1
1991 63 77.7
1990 62.9 77.6
1989 63 77.7
1988 62.9 77
1987 62.7 77.1
1986 62.4 77
1985 62.2 76.7
1984 61.8 76.8
1983 61.4 76.6
1982 60.9 76.3
1981 60.4 76
1980 60 75.7
1979 59.5 75.5
1978 59 75.5
1977 58.5 75.4
1976 58 75
1975 57.6 75
1974 57.1 75
1973 56.7 74.9
1972 56.4 74.7
1971 56 74.6
1970 55.7 74.7
1969 55.4 74.1
1968 55.2 74
1967 55 74.1
1966 54.7 74.1
1965 54.4 73.9
1964 54.2 73.7
1963 53.9 73.5
1962 53.6 73.4
1961 53.1 73.5
1960 52.6 73
1959 51.9 73.4
1958 51.1 73.2
1957 50.2 72.5
1956 49.2 72.7
1955 48.2 72.6
1954 47.1 72.4
1953 46.1 71.9
1952 45 71.8
1951 44.1 71.4
1950 43.1 71.1

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

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

South Africa and Sweden population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year Population
South Africa Sweden
2024 64,007,187 10,569,709
2023 63,212,384 10,536,632
2022 62,378,410 10,486,941
2021 61,502,603 10,415,811
2020 60,562,381 10,353,442
2019 59,587,885 10,278,887
2018 58,613,001 10,175,214
2017 57,635,162 10,057,698
2016 57,259,551 9,923,085
2015 56,723,537 9,799,186
2014 55,594,838 9,696,110
2013 54,678,791 9,600,379
2012 53,782,567 9,519,374
2011 52,995,205 9,449,213
2010 52,344,051 9,378,126
2009 51,728,516 9,298,515
2008 51,114,599 9,219,637
2007 50,528,584 9,148,092
2006 49,998,277 9,080,505
2005 49,490,033 9,029,572
2004 48,991,421 8,993,531
2003 48,500,348 8,958,229
2002 48,019,415 8,924,958
2001 47,566,800 8,895,960
2000 47,159,719 8,872,109
1999 46,730,335 8,857,874
1998 46,223,880 8,850,974
1997 45,666,838 8,846,062
1996 45,123,018 8,840,998
1995 44,541,554 8,826,939
1994 44,004,139 8,780,745
1993 43,297,156 8,718,561
1992 42,443,509 8,668,067
1991 41,687,898 8,617,375
1990 40,746,268 8,558,835
1989 39,628,575 8,492,964
1988 38,480,649 8,436,489
1987 37,326,190 8,397,804
1986 36,180,515 8,369,829
1985 35,042,093 8,350,386
1984 33,892,788 8,336,605
1983 32,739,304 8,329,033
1982 31,615,339 8,325,263
1981 30,541,044 8,320,503
1980 29,518,857 8,310,531
1979 28,634,162 8,293,678
1978 27,869,507 8,275,599
1977 27,118,952 8,251,540
1976 26,395,450 8,222,286
1975 25,690,940 8,192,437
1974 24,989,108 8,159,955
1973 24,294,263 8,136,312
1972 23,609,456 8,122,300
1971 22,942,143 8,098,334
1970 22,279,984 8,042,801
1969 21,614,676 7,968,072
1968 20,957,287 7,912,273
1967 20,314,066 7,867,931
1966 19,690,087 7,807,797
1965 19,089,380 7,733,853
1964 18,511,361 7,661,354
1963 17,954,564 7,604,328
1962 17,418,522 7,561,588
1961 16,908,035 7,519,998
1960 16,440,172 7,484,656

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Sweden

Fertility rate
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Sweden
2023 2.22 1.45
2022 2.23 1.53
2021 2.25 1.67
2020 2.26 1.67
2019 2.26 1.71
2018 2.27 1.76
2017 2.28 1.78
2016 2.26 1.85
2015 2.36 1.85
2014 2.42 1.88
2013 2.43 1.89
2012 2.45 1.91
2011 2.44 1.9
2010 2.44 1.98
2009 2.5 1.94
2008 2.68 1.91
2007 2.55 1.88
2006 2.55 1.85
2005 2.51 1.77
2004 2.44 1.75
2003 2.36 1.71
2002 2.32 1.65
2001 2.37 1.57
2000 2.41 1.54
1999 2.56 1.5
1998 2.63 1.5
1997 2.73 1.52
1996 2.99 1.6
1995 3.17 1.73
1994 3.26 1.88
1993 3.37 1.99
1992 3.48 2.09
1991 3.62 2.11
1990 3.72 2.13
1989 3.98 2.01
1988 4.18 1.96
1987 4.35 1.84
1986 4.41 1.8
1985 4.5 1.74
1984 4.57 1.66
1983 4.63 1.61
1982 4.7 1.62
1981 4.71 1.63
1980 4.78 1.68
1979 4.82 1.66
1978 4.85 1.6
1977 4.94 1.64
1976 5.07 1.68
1975 5.19 1.77
1974 5.3 1.87
1973 5.41 1.87
1972 5.49 1.91
1971 5.57 1.96
1970 5.63 1.92
1969 5.72 1.93
1968 5.78 2.07
1967 5.85 2.28
1966 5.91 2.37
1965 5.89 2.39
1964 5.96 2.47
1963 6.01 2.33
1962 6.05 2.25
1961 6.08 2.21
1960 6.11 2.17

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

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

South Africa and Sweden demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Sweden
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Sweden
2024 29.5 41.1
2023 29.2 40.9
2022 28.9 40.7
2021 28.6 40.7
2020 28.3 40.6
2019 27.9 40.5
2018 27.5 40.6
2017 27 40.7
2016 26.7 40.8
2015 26.4 40.9
2014 26 40.9
2013 25.7 40.9
2012 25.3 40.9
2011 25 40.8
2010 24.6 40.7
2009 24.3 40.7
2008 24 40.6
2007 23.8 40.5
2006 23.5 40.4
2005 23.3 40.2
2004 23.1 40
2003 22.8 39.8
2002 22.4 39.7
2001 22.2 39.5
2000 21.9 39.4
1999 21.6 39.2
1998 21.4 39
1997 21.2 38.8
1996 21.2 38.6
1995 21.5 38.5
1994 22 38.4
1993 21.9 38.4
1992 21.5 38.4
1991 21.5 38.3
1990 21.3 38.3
1989 21.1 38.3
1988 20.9 38.2
1987 20.7 38.1
1986 20.5 37.9
1985 20.4 37.6
1984 20.2 37.4
1983 20 37.1
1982 19.8 36.8
1981 19.6 36.5
1980 19.4 36.2
1979 19.3 36
1978 19.2 35.7
1977 19.1 35.5
1976 19 35.4
1975 18.9 35.3
1974 18.9 35.3
1973 18.8 35.3
1972 18.8 35.3
1971 18.8 35.3
1970 18.8 35.4
1969 18.8 35.6
1968 18.8 35.8
1967 18.8 35.9
1966 18.8 36
1965 18.8 36.2
1964 18.9 36.3
1963 18.9 36.3
1962 18.9 36.3
1961 19 36.2
1960 19 36

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Sweden
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$615B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
49.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
7.32%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
2%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-1.72%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
8.31%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
66.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
21.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
22.3%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.8%
2023
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
490,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
6.01%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
45
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
278
2002
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$290B
2003
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$62.6B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$4.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
1,957,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
4.85%
2010
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
98.6%
2024

Energy

South Africa Sweden
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
4,289 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$16.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
37.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
3.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
24.9%
2023
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
57.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
49.9%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
27.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
12,150 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
67.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
39.9%
2023
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
29.2%
2023
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Sweden
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.13%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+47,079
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
88.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.47 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
94.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
94
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
1.15
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
31%
2023
89%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
95.5%
2024

Health

South Africa Sweden
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$6,485
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$868
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
83.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
4.41
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
30 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
2.5
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
15.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
5.8%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
89
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
22.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
9.57 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Sweden
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.27%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
14,877 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
11,514 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
108,031 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
356,129 mi
2016

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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