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South Africa vs Taiwan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 23.3M in Taiwan (ranked 60/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 13,976 sq mi for Taiwan (ranked 24th vs. 133rd).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Taiwan ranks 22/197 ($802B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Taiwan ranks 35/197 ($34,238).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Taiwan
Population
65683993
23229461
Population rank 24/197 60/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 22/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 35/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$50,500
2017
Government debt
$305B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 59/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$18,163
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 13,976 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
1,662 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
0.89
2024
Median age
29.5 years
2024
45.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
81.1 years
2026

South Africa and Taiwan: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Taiwan economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Taiwan
2024 $401,144,998,374 $801,529,000,000
2023 $381,440,724,491 $757,328,000,000
2022 $407,596,043,068 $765,529,000,000
2021 $419,986,284,375 $777,062,000,000
2020 $337,974,655,408 $676,935,000,000
2019 $389,330,032,224 $613,453,000,000
2018 $405,260,723,893 $610,744,000,000
2017 $381,448,814,653 $591,734,000,000
2016 $323,585,509,674 $543,002,000,000
2015 $346,709,790,459 $534,474,000,000
2014 $381,198,869,776 $535,332,000,000
2013 $400,886,013,596 $512,957,000,000
2012 $434,400,545,086 $495,536,000,000
2011 $458,199,494,831 $483,957,000,000
2010 $417,363,822,802 $444,245,000,000
2009 $329,754,060,647 $390,788,000,000
2008 $316,131,258,616 $415,824,000,000
2007 $333,077,117,254 $406,940,000,000
2006 $303,858,675,364 $386,492,000,000
2005 $288,867,217,197 $374,042,000,000
2004 $255,806,908,595 $346,881,000,000
2003 $197,018,965,309 $317,374,000,000
2002 $129,087,556,612 $307,429,000,000
2001 $135,429,905,923 $299,303,000,000
2000 $151,752,757,215 $330,725,000,000
1999 $151,516,957,079 $303,827,000,000
1998 $152,982,984,557 $279,926,000,000
1997 $168,978,057,328 $303,315,000,000
1996 $163,234,925,381 $292,473,000,000
1995 $171,735,933,897 $279,013,000,000
1994 $153,512,712,382 $256,213,000,000
1993 $147,194,747,566 $234,943,000,000
1992 $146,956,150,987 $222,947,000,000
1991 $135,203,698,238 $187,100,000,000
1990 $126,048,140,142 $166,392,000,000
1989 $108,055,624,082 $152,687,000,000
1988 $103,976,831,871 $126,378,000,000
1987 $96,535,763,418 $104,956,000,000
1986 $73,354,771,399 $78,347,000,000
1985 $64,459,376,087 $63,599,000,000
1984 $84,870,163,366 $61,036,000,000
1983 $96,204,110,942 $54,155,000,000
1982 $85,904,057,409 $49,540,000,000
1981 $93,141,472,164 $49,047,000,000
1980 $89,411,864,402 $42,292,000,000
1979 $63,038,658,089 $33,875,000,000
1978 $51,607,412,902 $27,373,000,000
1977 $45,328,411,332 $22,252,000,000
1976 $41,150,460,288 $18,988,000,000
1975 $42,906,905,672 $15,836,000,000
1974 $41,389,186,095 $14,739,000,000
1973 $33,262,772,008 $10,940,000,000
1972 $24,515,919,217 $8,063,000,000
1971 $23,411,076,638 $6,727,000,000
1970 $21,218,391,513 $5,785,000,000
1969 $19,256,992,297 $5,017,000,000
1968 $17,124,793,150 $4,325,000,000
1967 $15,821,393,671 $3,709,000,000
1966 $14,211,394,315 $3,207,000,000
1965 $13,068,994,772 $2,869,000,000
1964 $11,955,995,218 $2,592,000,000
1963 $10,854,195,658 $2,218,000,000
1962 $9,813,996,074 $1,960,000,000
1961 $9,225,996,310 $1,778,000,000
1960 $8,748,596,501 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

South Africa and Taiwan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Taiwan
2024 $6,267 $34,238
2023 $6,034 $32,444
2022 $6,534 $32,827
2021 $6,829 $33,111
2020 $5,581 $28,705
2019 $6,534 $25,998
2018 $6,914 $25,901
2017 $6,618 $25,121
2016 $5,651 $23,091
2015 $6,112 $22,780
2014 $6,857 $22,874
2013 $7,332 $21,973
2012 $8,077 $21,295
2011 $8,646 $20,866
2010 $7,973 $19,197
2009 $6,375 $16,933
2008 $6,185 $18,081
2007 $6,592 $17,757
2006 $6,077 $16,934
2005 $5,837 $16,456
2004 $5,221 $15,317
2003 $4,062 $14,066
2002 $2,688 $13,686
2001 $2,847 $13,397
2000 $3,218 $14,908
1999 $3,242 $13,804
1998 $3,310 $12,820
1997 $3,700 $14,020
1996 $3,618 $13,641
1995 $3,856 $13,119
1994 $3,489 $12,150
1993 $3,400 $11,242
1992 $3,462 $10,768
1991 $3,243 $9,125
1990 $3,093 $8,205
1989 $2,727 $7,613
1988 $2,702 $6,370
1987 $2,586 $5,350
1986 $2,027 $4,036
1985 $1,839 $3,314
1984 $2,504 $3,224
1983 $2,938 $2,903
1982 $2,717 $2,699
1981 $3,050 $2,720
1980 $3,029 $2,389
1979 $2,202 $1,950
1978 $1,852 $1,606
1977 $1,671 $1,330
1976 $1,559 $1,158
1975 $1,670 $985
1974 $1,656 $934
1973 $1,369 $706
1972 $1,038 $530
1971 $1,020 $451
1970 $952 $397
1969 $891 $357
1968 $817 $319
1967 $779 $280.8
1966 $722 $249.1
1965 $685 $229.3
1964 $646 $213.6
1963 $605 $188.6
1962 $563 $172
1961 $546 $161.2
1960 $532 $163.4
1959 - $140.4
1958 - $185.1
1957 - $170.5
1956 - $150.6
1955 - $216.3
1954 - $188.3
1953 - $177.7
1952 - $208.4
1951 - $154.3

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

South Africa vs. Taiwan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Taiwan
2026 66.7 81.1
2025 66.5 80.9
2024 66.3 80.7
2023 66.1 80.6
2022 65.5 80.2
2021 62 80.8
2020 65.2 81.1
2019 66.1 80.6
2018 65.7 80.4
2017 65.4 80.1
2016 64.7 79.7
2015 64.1 79.9
2014 63.2 79.5
2013 62.4 79.6
2012 61.7 79.2
2011 60.6 78.9
2010 58.9 79
2009 57.4 78.7
2008 56 78.3
2007 54.9 78
2006 54.2 77.8
2005 53.9 77.1
2004 54 77.2
2003 54.2 77
2002 55.6 76.9
2001 57.2 76.5
2000 58.4 76.1
1999 59.2 75.6
1998 59.9 75.5
1997 60.5 75.3
1996 61.1 74.9
1995 61.6 74.6
1994 62.1 74.7
1993 62.6 74.6
1992 62.8 74.3
1991 63 74.3
1990 62.9 73.9
1989 63 73.7
1988 62.9 73.4
1987 62.7 73.6
1986 62.4 73.3
1985 62.2 73.3
1984 61.8 73
1983 61.4 72.4
1982 60.9 72.4
1981 60.4 72
1980 60 72
1979 59.5 71.7
1978 59 71.7
1977 58.5 71.3
1976 58 71.2
1975 57.6 70.9
1974 57.1 70.3
1973 56.7 69.8
1972 56.4 69.6
1971 56 69.4
1970 55.7 69
1969 55.4 67.7
1968 55.2 66.8
1967 55 66.7
1966 54.7 66.1
1965 54.4 65.7
1964 54.2 64.9
1963 53.9 64.5
1962 53.6 63.8
1961 53.1 63
1960 52.6 62.5
1959 51.9 61.6
1958 51.1 61
1957 50.2 61
1956 49.2 60.3
1955 48.2 59.8
1954 47.1 58.9
1953 46.1 58.6
1952 45 57.9
1951 44.1 57.2
1950 43.1 56.6

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

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

South Africa and Taiwan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year Population
South Africa Taiwan
2025 - 23,331,886
2024 64,007,187 23,410,331
2023 63,212,384 23,342,541
2022 62,378,410 23,319,977
2021 61,502,603 23,468,275
2020 60,562,381 23,582,179
2019 59,587,885 23,596,027
2018 58,613,001 23,580,080
2017 57,635,162 23,555,522
2016 57,259,551 23,515,945
2015 56,723,537 23,462,914
2014 55,594,838 23,403,635
2013 54,678,791 23,344,670
2012 53,782,567 23,270,367
2011 52,995,205 23,193,518
2010 52,344,051 23,140,948
2009 51,728,516 23,078,402
2008 51,114,599 22,997,696
2007 50,528,584 22,917,444
2006 49,998,277 22,823,455
2005 49,490,033 22,729,753
2004 48,991,421 22,646,836
2003 48,500,348 22,562,663
2002 48,019,415 22,463,172
2001 47,566,800 22,341,120
2000 47,159,719 22,184,530
1999 46,730,335 22,010,489
1998 46,223,880 21,835,703
1997 45,666,838 21,634,124
1996 45,123,018 21,441,432
1995 44,541,554 21,267,653
1994 44,004,139 21,086,645
1993 43,297,156 20,899,019
1992 42,443,509 20,704,227
1991 41,687,898 20,503,568
1990 40,746,268 20,278,946
1989 39,628,575 20,055,492
1988 38,480,649 19,839,704
1987 37,326,190 19,617,046
1986 36,180,515 19,411,454
1985 35,042,093 19,191,510
1984 33,892,788 18,929,866
1983 32,739,304 18,653,146
1982 31,615,339 18,354,855
1981 30,541,044 18,029,982
1980 29,518,857 17,704,538
1979 28,634,162 17,372,779
1978 27,869,507 17,042,272
1977 27,118,952 16,730,895
1976 26,395,450 16,401,413
1975 25,690,940 16,075,128
1974 24,989,108 15,784,817
1973 24,294,263 15,505,121
1972 23,609,456 15,220,495
1971 22,942,143 14,913,564
1970 22,279,984 14,582,944
1969 21,614,676 14,068,984
1968 20,957,287 13,548,537
1967 20,314,066 13,210,344
1966 19,690,087 12,874,153
1965 19,089,380 12,511,863
1964 18,511,361 12,137,143
1963 17,954,564 11,762,101
1962 17,418,522 11,392,513
1961 16,908,035 11,030,385
1960 16,440,172 10,667,705
1959 - 10,288,327
1958 - 9,920,227
1957 - 9,597,690
1956 - 9,289,545
1955 - 8,967,001
1954 - 8,645,264
1953 - 8,333,009
1952 - 8,046,915
1951 - 7,758,202

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Taiwan

Fertility rate
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Taiwan
2024 - 0.89
2023 2.22 0.87
2022 2.23 0.87
2021 2.25 0.98
2020 2.26 0.99
2019 2.26 1.05
2018 2.27 1.06
2017 2.28 1.13
2016 2.26 1.17
2015 2.36 1.18
2014 2.42 -
2013 2.43 -
2012 2.45 -
2011 2.44 1.07
2010 2.44 -
2009 2.5 -
2008 2.68 -
2007 2.55 -
2006 2.55 -
2005 2.51 -
2004 2.44 -
2003 2.36 -
2002 2.32 -
2001 2.37 1.4
2000 2.41 -
1999 2.56 -
1998 2.63 -
1997 2.73 -
1996 2.99 -
1995 3.17 -
1994 3.26 -
1993 3.37 -
1992 3.48 -
1991 3.62 1.72
1990 3.72 -
1989 3.98 -
1988 4.18 -
1987 4.35 -
1986 4.41 -
1985 4.5 -
1984 4.57 -
1983 4.63 -
1982 4.7 -
1981 4.71 2.46
1980 4.78 -
1979 4.82 -
1978 4.85 -
1977 4.94 -
1976 5.07 -
1975 5.19 -
1974 5.3 -
1973 5.41 -
1972 5.49 -
1971 5.57 -
1970 5.63 -
1969 5.72 -
1968 5.78 -
1967 5.85 -
1966 5.91 -
1965 5.89 -
1964 5.96 -
1963 6.01 -
1962 6.05 -
1961 6.08 -
1960 6.11 -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

South Africa and Taiwan demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Taiwan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Taiwan
2024 29.5 45.1
2023 29.2 44.5
2022 28.9 43.9
2021 28.6 43.3
2020 28.3 42.7
2019 27.9 42.1
2018 27.5 41.5
2017 27 41
2016 26.7 40.4
2015 26.4 39.9
2014 26 39.3
2013 25.7 38.9
2012 25.3 38.3
2011 25 37.9
2010 24.6 37.4
2009 24.3 36.8
2008 24 36.3
2007 23.8 35.8
2006 23.5 35.2
2005 23.3 34.7
2004 23.1 34.1
2003 22.8 33.6
2002 22.4 33.1
2001 22.2 32.6
2000 21.9 32.1
1999 21.6 31.6
1998 21.4 31.2
1997 21.2 30.7
1996 21.2 30.3
1995 21.5 29.8
1994 22 29.4
1993 21.9 28.9
1992 21.5 28.4
1991 21.5 28
1990 21.3 27.5
1989 21.1 27
1988 20.9 26.5
1987 20.7 26.1
1986 20.5 25.6
1985 20.4 25.1
1984 20.2 24.6
1983 20 24.1
1982 19.8 23.8
1981 19.6 23.4
1980 19.4 23
1979 19.3 22.6
1978 19.2 22.3
1977 19.1 21.9
1976 19 21.5
1975 18.9 21.2
1974 18.9 20.8
1973 18.8 -
1972 18.8 -
1971 18.8 -
1970 18.8 -
1969 18.8 -
1968 18.8 -
1967 18.8 -
1966 18.8 -
1965 18.8 -
1964 18.9 -
1963 18.9 -
1962 18.9 -
1961 19 -
1960 19 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Taiwan
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$832B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
15.8%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
n/a
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
+0.43%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
3.35%
2025
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
39.8%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
79.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
n/a
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
759,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
3.86%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
54
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
n/a

Energy

South Africa Taiwan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
2,308 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
273.7 megatons
2022
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
11.7 tons
2022
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
n/a
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
n/a
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
n/a
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
n/a
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
n/a
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
n/a
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
n/a

Society

South Africa Taiwan
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.29%
2025
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+47,029
2024
Urban population
63.7%
2024
n/a
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.3:50.7
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.69 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
82.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
68
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
89
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
0.8
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
2
2024
Visa free countries
109
2025
127
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
98.5%
2014
English speaking
31%
2023
30%
2025
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
n/a

Health

South Africa Taiwan
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
81.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
14
2024
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
n/a
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
11.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
n/a
Air quality index
39
2026
55
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

South Africa Taiwan
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
599 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
3,000 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
8,495 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
25,771 mi
2019

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. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2026, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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