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South Africa vs Tanzania statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 68.6M in Tanzania (ranked 22/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 342,009 sq mi for Tanzania (ranked 24th vs. 31st).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Tanzania ranks 82/197 ($78.8B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Tanzania ranks 170/197 ($1,150).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Tanzania
Population
65683993
73145892
Population rank 24/197 20/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$78.8B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 82/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$1,150
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 170/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$4,221
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$39.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
49.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$573
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 160/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$2,309
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 342,009 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
212.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
4.61
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
18.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
67.6 years
2026

South Africa and Tanzania: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Tanzania economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Tanzania
2024 $401,144,998,374 $78,844,405,385
2023 $381,440,724,491 $79,030,935,627
2022 $407,596,043,068 $75,749,121,843
2021 $419,986,284,375 $70,655,628,148
2020 $337,974,655,408 $66,068,737,786
2019 $389,330,032,224 $61,026,731,926
2018 $405,260,723,893 $57,003,712,892
2017 $381,448,814,653 $53,274,884,533
2016 $323,585,509,674 $49,774,409,374
2015 $346,709,790,459 $47,413,919,817
2014 $381,198,869,776 $49,986,726,461
2013 $400,886,013,596 $45,648,857,242
2012 $434,400,545,086 $39,650,394,363
2011 $458,199,494,831 $34,657,140,096
2010 $417,363,822,802 $32,012,892,919
2009 $329,754,060,647 $29,400,573,554
2008 $316,131,258,616 $27,947,821,398
2007 $333,077,117,254 $21,860,434,823
2006 $303,858,675,364 $18,619,859,795
2005 $288,867,217,197 $18,395,383,647
2004 $255,806,908,595 $16,673,062,473
2003 $197,018,965,309 $15,211,487,709
2002 $129,087,556,612 $14,129,651,896
2001 $135,429,905,923 $13,563,990,022
2000 $151,752,757,215 $13,371,767,082
1999 $151,516,957,079 $12,704,334,196
1998 $152,982,984,557 $12,172,790,056
1997 $168,978,057,328 $11,158,197,942
1996 $163,234,925,381 $9,433,528,150
1995 $171,735,933,897 $7,631,431,840
1994 $153,512,712,382 $6,550,480,484
1993 $147,194,747,566 $6,182,872,708
1992 $146,956,150,987 $6,681,997,469
1991 $135,203,698,238 $7,197,768,159
1990 $126,048,140,142 $6,184,384,225
1989 $108,055,624,082 $6,418,799,007
1988 $103,976,831,871 $7,406,614,407
1987 $96,535,763,418 $7,824,193,222
1986 $73,354,771,399 $10,840,864,521
1985 $64,459,376,087 $15,328,295,175
1984 $84,870,163,366 $12,906,635,133
1983 $96,204,110,942 $14,049,883,809
1982 $85,904,057,409 $13,927,383,240
1981 $93,141,472,164 $13,161,540,378
1980 $89,411,864,402 $11,409,228,087
1979 $63,038,658,089 $9,804,637,491
1978 $51,607,412,902 $9,261,675,710
1977 $45,328,411,332 $7,732,598,995
1976 $41,150,460,288 $6,472,511,988
1975 $42,906,905,672 $5,729,917,840
1974 $41,389,186,095 $4,977,337,978
1973 $33,262,772,008 $4,144,104,535
1972 $24,515,919,217 $3,472,787,266
1971 $23,411,076,638 $3,050,673,517
1970 $21,218,391,513 $2,851,419,386
1969 $19,256,992,297 $5,142,066,811
1968 $17,124,793,150 $4,895,251,824
1967 $15,821,393,671 $4,565,132,048
1966 $14,211,394,315 $4,377,998,825
1965 $13,068,994,772 $3,817,226,546
1964 $11,955,995,218 $3,748,840,925
1963 $10,854,195,658 $3,456,579,293
1962 $9,813,996,074 $3,101,589,993
1961 $9,225,996,310 $2,826,179,031
1960 $8,748,596,501 $2,651,729,807

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

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

South Africa and Tanzania economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Tanzania
2024 $6,267 $1,150
2023 $6,034 $1,186
2022 $6,534 $1,171
2021 $6,829 $1,125
2020 $5,581 $1,084
2019 $6,534 $1,031
2018 $6,914 $992
2017 $6,618 $957
2016 $5,651 $925
2015 $6,112 $911
2014 $6,857 $993
2013 $7,332 $935
2012 $8,077 $837
2011 $8,646 $753
2010 $7,973 $715
2009 $6,375 $674
2008 $6,185 $657
2007 $6,592 $528
2006 $6,077 $462
2005 $5,837 $469
2004 $5,221 $438
2003 $4,062 $410
2002 $2,688 $391
2001 $2,847 $385
2000 $3,218 $390
1999 $3,242 $382
1998 $3,310 $375
1997 $3,700 $353
1996 $3,618 $305
1995 $3,856 $251.2
1994 $3,489 $222.5
1993 $3,400 $218.2
1992 $3,462 $243.4
1991 $3,243 $268.8
1990 $3,093 $236.9
1989 $2,727 $252.3
1988 $2,702 $299
1987 $2,586 $326
1986 $2,027 $466
1985 $1,839 $681
1984 $2,504 $593
1983 $2,938 $667
1982 $2,717 $683
1981 $3,050 $665
1980 $3,029 $595
1979 $2,202 $527
1978 $1,852 $515
1977 $1,671 $446
1976 $1,559 $387
1975 $1,670 $355
1974 $1,656 $320
1973 $1,369 $276.1
1972 $1,038 $239.8
1971 $1,020 $218.4
1970 $952 $211.3
1969 $891 $394
1968 $817 $388
1967 $779 $374
1966 $722 $370
1965 $685 $333
1964 $646 $337
1963 $605 $320
1962 $563 $295.7
1961 $546 $277.4
1960 $532 $267.8

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

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

South Africa vs. Tanzania life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Tanzania
2026 66.7 67.6
2025 66.5 67.4
2024 66.3 67.2
2023 66.1 67
2022 65.5 66.9
2021 62 66.1
2020 65.2 66.8
2019 66.1 66
2018 65.7 65.5
2017 65.4 65
2016 64.7 64.4
2015 64.1 63.9
2014 63.2 63.4
2013 62.4 62.8
2012 61.7 62.3
2011 60.6 61.6
2010 58.9 61.1
2009 57.4 60.5
2008 56 59.9
2007 54.9 59.3
2006 54.2 58.5
2005 53.9 57.7
2004 54 56.8
2003 54.2 55.9
2002 55.6 54.9
2001 57.2 54.1
2000 58.4 53.2
1999 59.2 52.4
1998 59.9 51.8
1997 60.5 51.2
1996 61.1 51.1
1995 61.6 51
1994 62.1 51.1
1993 62.6 51.2
1992 62.8 51.4
1991 63 51.8
1990 62.9 52
1989 63 52.1
1988 62.9 52.2
1987 62.7 52.2
1986 62.4 52.2
1985 62.2 52.2
1984 61.8 52.2
1983 61.4 52.2
1982 60.9 52
1981 60.4 51.7
1980 60 51.3
1979 59.5 50.8
1978 59 50.4
1977 58.5 50
1976 58 49.5
1975 57.6 48.9
1974 57.1 48.4
1973 56.7 47.9
1972 56.4 47.4
1971 56 47
1970 55.7 46.5
1969 55.4 46
1968 55.2 45.6
1967 55 45.2
1966 54.7 44.9
1965 54.4 44.5
1964 54.2 44.1
1963 53.9 43.6
1962 53.6 43.2
1961 53.1 42.8
1960 52.6 42.6
1959 51.9 42.5
1958 51.1 42.3
1957 50.2 42.1
1956 49.2 42
1955 48.2 41.8
1954 47.1 41.7
1953 46.1 41.5
1952 45 41.4
1951 44.1 41.2
1950 43.1 41

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

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

South Africa and Tanzania population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year Population
South Africa Tanzania
2024 64,007,187 68,560,157
2023 63,212,384 66,617,606
2022 62,378,410 64,711,821
2021 61,502,603 62,830,412
2020 60,562,381 60,972,798
2019 59,587,885 59,174,891
2018 58,613,001 57,437,145
2017 57,635,162 55,652,890
2016 57,259,551 53,824,013
2015 56,723,537 52,020,962
2014 55,594,838 50,351,512
2013 54,678,791 48,824,128
2012 53,782,567 47,374,260
2011 52,995,205 46,029,367
2010 52,344,051 44,758,488
2009 51,728,516 43,633,982
2008 51,114,599 42,570,728
2007 50,528,584 41,435,512
2006 49,998,277 40,294,902
2005 49,490,033 39,182,076
2004 48,991,421 38,109,668
2003 48,500,348 37,089,555
2002 48,019,415 36,121,304
2001 47,566,800 35,198,299
2000 47,159,719 34,260,139
1999 46,730,335 33,300,330
1998 46,223,880 32,420,458
1997 45,666,838 31,578,089
1996 45,123,018 30,945,762
1995 44,541,554 30,383,497
1994 44,004,139 29,442,356
1993 43,297,156 28,332,692
1992 42,443,509 27,457,588
1991 41,687,898 26,780,436
1990 40,746,268 26,110,207
1989 39,628,575 25,438,759
1988 38,480,649 24,769,686
1987 37,326,190 24,030,378
1986 36,180,515 23,258,959
1985 35,042,093 22,501,693
1984 33,892,788 21,779,066
1983 32,739,304 21,079,874
1982 31,615,339 20,398,571
1981 30,541,044 19,784,703
1980 29,518,857 19,189,769
1979 28,634,162 18,592,038
1978 27,869,507 17,976,566
1977 27,118,952 17,352,929
1976 26,395,450 16,736,211
1975 25,690,940 16,138,361
1974 24,989,108 15,561,630
1973 24,294,263 15,010,101
1972 23,609,456 14,479,308
1971 22,942,143 13,971,451
1970 22,279,984 13,492,677
1969 21,614,676 13,036,700
1968 20,957,287 12,602,076
1967 20,314,066 12,200,109
1966 19,690,087 11,827,459
1965 19,089,380 11,470,728
1964 18,511,361 11,127,826
1963 17,954,564 10,799,528
1962 17,418,522 10,487,756
1961 16,908,035 10,187,886
1960 16,440,172 9,901,419

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Tanzania

Fertility rate
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Tanzania
2023 2.22 4.61
2022 2.23 4.67
2021 2.25 4.73
2020 2.26 4.8
2019 2.26 4.87
2018 2.27 4.93
2017 2.28 4.99
2016 2.26 5.01
2015 2.36 5.03
2014 2.42 5.12
2013 2.43 5.16
2012 2.45 5.14
2011 2.44 5.14
2010 2.44 5.23
2009 2.5 5.26
2008 2.68 5.32
2007 2.55 5.4
2006 2.55 5.51
2005 2.51 5.58
2004 2.44 5.6
2003 2.36 5.58
2002 2.32 5.57
2001 2.37 5.62
2000 2.41 5.67
1999 2.56 5.75
1998 2.63 5.81
1997 2.73 5.84
1996 2.99 5.83
1995 3.17 5.82
1994 3.26 5.89
1993 3.37 6
1992 3.48 6.08
1991 3.62 6.14
1990 3.72 6.2
1989 3.98 6.3
1988 4.18 6.38
1987 4.35 6.41
1986 4.41 6.49
1985 4.5 6.6
1984 4.57 6.72
1983 4.63 6.81
1982 4.7 6.87
1981 4.71 6.93
1980 4.78 6.99
1979 4.82 7.04
1978 4.85 7.06
1977 4.94 7.07
1976 5.07 7.09
1975 5.19 7.1
1974 5.3 7.12
1973 5.41 7.06
1972 5.49 7.05
1971 5.57 7.04
1970 5.63 7
1969 5.72 6.95
1968 5.78 6.9
1967 5.85 6.86
1966 5.91 6.8
1965 5.89 6.73
1964 5.96 6.68
1963 6.01 6.65
1962 6.05 6.61
1961 6.08 6.56
1960 6.11 6.54

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

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

South Africa and Tanzania demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Tanzania
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Tanzania
2024 29.5 18.4
2023 29.2 18.3
2022 28.9 18.2
2021 28.6 18.1
2020 28.3 18
2019 27.9 17.9
2018 27.5 17.9
2017 27 17.8
2016 26.7 17.6
2015 26.4 17.5
2014 26 17.4
2013 25.7 17.3
2012 25.3 17.3
2011 25 17.2
2010 24.6 17.2
2009 24.3 17.2
2008 24 17.3
2007 23.8 17.3
2006 23.5 17.4
2005 23.3 17.4
2004 23.1 17.4
2003 22.8 17.4
2002 22.4 17.5
2001 22.2 17.5
2000 21.9 17.4
1999 21.6 17.4
1998 21.4 17.3
1997 21.2 17.3
1996 21.2 17.4
1995 21.5 17.4
1994 22 17.3
1993 21.9 17
1992 21.5 16.8
1991 21.5 16.7
1990 21.3 16.7
1989 21.1 16.6
1988 20.9 16.6
1987 20.7 16.5
1986 20.5 16.4
1985 20.4 16.3
1984 20.2 16.2
1983 20 16.2
1982 19.8 16.3
1981 19.6 16.4
1980 19.4 16.5
1979 19.3 16.6
1978 19.2 16.7
1977 19.1 16.8
1976 19 16.8
1975 18.9 16.9
1974 18.9 16.9
1973 18.8 17
1972 18.8 17
1971 18.8 17
1970 18.8 17.1
1969 18.8 17.1
1968 18.8 17.1
1967 18.8 17.2
1966 18.8 17.2
1965 18.8 17.3
1964 18.9 17.4
1963 18.9 17.4
1962 18.9 17.4
1961 19 17.4
1960 19 17.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Tanzania
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$80.2B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
19.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
3.16%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.15%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
28,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-3.03%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
2.43%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
29.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
28.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
59
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
33.1%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.9%
2018
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
1
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.000003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
22
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$7.32B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$5.05B
2018
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$1.12B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
1,527,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
27.2%
2019
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
59.8%
2024

Energy

South Africa Tanzania
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
405 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$9.09
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
21.3 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
0.31 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
23.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
78.3%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
0.93%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
12.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
123.5 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
39.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
29.3%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
48.3%
2023

Society

South Africa Tanzania
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.84%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-12,730
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
36.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.6:50.4
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.48 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
36.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
40
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
50
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
3.71
2020
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
31.1
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
75
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
78.2%
2022
English speaking
31%
2023
9.89%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
29.1%
2023

Health

South Africa Tanzania
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$36.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$10.1
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
67.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
39.4%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.13
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
19.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
276
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
38.9
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
13%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
9.8%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
37
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
9.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
11 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Tanzania
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.59%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
4,988 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
152,592 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
171,190 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
90,225 mi
2022

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) (2000–2025, 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)

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