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South Africa vs Thailand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 71.7M in Thailand (ranked 20/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 197,256 sq mi for Thailand (ranked 24th vs. 50th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Thailand ranks 31/197 ($527B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Thailand ranks 100/197 ($7,347).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Thailand
Population
65683993
71571743
Population rank 24/197 21/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$527B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 31/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 100/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$24,712
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$6,733
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 197,256 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
363 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.21
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
77.1 years
2026

South Africa and Thailand: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Thailand economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Thailand
2024 $401,144,998,374 $526,517,658,842
2023 $381,440,724,491 $515,906,283,941
2022 $407,596,043,068 $495,644,697,588
2021 $419,986,284,375 $506,194,668,790
2020 $337,974,655,408 $500,461,898,480
2019 $389,330,032,224 $543,976,691,794
2018 $405,260,723,893 $506,754,208,404
2017 $381,448,814,653 $456,356,813,537
2016 $323,585,509,674 $413,366,349,748
2015 $346,709,790,459 $401,296,238,228
2014 $381,198,869,776 $407,339,040,198
2013 $400,886,013,596 $420,333,654,593
2012 $434,400,545,086 $397,558,325,279
2011 $458,199,494,831 $370,818,739,624
2010 $417,363,822,802 $341,104,766,329
2009 $329,754,060,647 $281,710,630,187
2008 $316,131,258,616 $291,382,982,431
2007 $333,077,117,254 $262,942,621,455
2006 $303,858,675,364 $221,758,296,022
2005 $288,867,217,197 $189,318,408,469
2004 $255,806,908,595 $172,895,685,155
2003 $197,018,965,309 $152,280,615,246
2002 $129,087,556,612 $134,300,904,400
2001 $135,429,905,923 $120,296,476,180
2000 $151,752,757,215 $126,392,224,254
1999 $151,516,957,079 $126,669,211,779
1998 $152,982,984,557 $113,675,596,788
1997 $168,978,057,328 $150,180,456,566
1996 $163,234,925,381 $183,035,237,429
1995 $171,735,933,897 $169,278,916,593
1994 $153,512,712,382 $146,683,778,959
1993 $147,194,747,566 $128,889,262,951
1992 $146,956,150,987 $111,452,746,518
1991 $135,203,698,238 $98,234,714,971
1990 $126,048,140,142 $85,343,190,719
1989 $108,055,624,082 $72,250,748,100
1988 $103,976,831,871 $61,667,253,471
1987 $96,535,763,418 $50,535,446,555
1986 $73,354,771,399 $43,096,773,981
1985 $64,459,376,087 $38,900,711,333
1984 $84,870,163,366 $41,797,647,776
1983 $96,204,110,942 $40,042,798,388
1982 $85,904,057,409 $36,589,772,404
1981 $93,141,472,164 $34,846,039,194
1980 $89,411,864,402 $32,353,514,989
1979 $63,038,658,089 $27,371,650,825
1978 $51,607,412,902 $24,006,566,637
1977 $45,328,411,332 $19,779,312,261
1976 $41,150,460,288 $16,985,208,648
1975 $42,906,905,672 $14,882,770,594
1974 $41,389,186,095 $13,702,998,512
1973 $33,262,772,008 $10,838,587,358
1972 $24,515,919,217 $8,177,873,151
1971 $23,411,076,638 $7,375,000,024
1970 $21,218,391,513 $7,086,538,438
1969 $19,256,992,297 $6,695,336,567
1968 $17,124,793,150 $6,081,009,428
1967 $15,821,393,671 $5,638,461,442
1966 $14,211,394,315 $5,279,230,817
1965 $13,068,994,772 $4,388,937,649
1964 $11,955,995,218 $3,889,129,942
1963 $10,854,195,658 $3,540,403,457
1962 $9,813,996,074 $3,308,912,797
1961 $9,225,996,310 $3,034,037,811
1960 $8,748,596,501 $2,760,750,861

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

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

South Africa and Thailand economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Thailand
2024 $6,267 $7,347
2023 $6,034 $7,195
2022 $6,534 $6,909
2021 $6,829 $7,057
2020 $5,581 $6,986
2019 $6,534 $7,606
2018 $6,914 $7,100
2017 $6,618 $6,413
2016 $5,651 $5,834
2015 $6,112 $5,689
2014 $6,857 $5,801
2013 $7,332 $6,018
2012 $8,077 $5,726
2011 $8,646 $5,374
2010 $7,973 $4,974
2009 $6,375 $4,135
2008 $6,185 $4,309
2007 $6,592 $3,919
2006 $6,077 $3,331
2005 $5,837 $2,868
2004 $5,221 $2,642
2003 $4,062 $2,348
2002 $2,688 $2,090
2001 $2,847 $1,890
2000 $3,218 $2,006
1999 $3,242 $2,033
1998 $3,310 $1,848
1997 $3,700 $2,473
1996 $3,618 $3,055
1995 $3,856 $2,864
1994 $3,489 $2,518
1993 $3,400 $2,245
1992 $3,462 $1,972
1991 $3,243 $1,766
1990 $3,093 $1,559
1989 $2,727 $1,342
1988 $2,702 $1,164
1987 $2,586 $970
1986 $2,027 $842
1985 $1,839 $774
1984 $2,504 $847
1983 $2,938 $827
1982 $2,717 $770
1981 $3,050 $748
1980 $3,029 $709
1979 $2,202 $612
1978 $1,852 $548
1977 $1,671 $462
1976 $1,559 $405
1975 $1,670 $364
1974 $1,656 $343
1973 $1,369 $278.3
1972 $1,038 $215.6
1971 $1,020 $199.7
1970 $952 $197.1
1969 $891 $191.4
1968 $817 $178.8
1967 $779 $170.7
1966 $722 $164.5
1965 $685 $140.9
1964 $646 $128.6
1963 $605 $120.7
1962 $563 $116.2
1961 $546 $109.7
1960 $532 $102.8

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

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

South Africa vs. Thailand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Thailand
2026 66.7 77.1
2025 66.5 76.8
2024 66.3 76.6
2023 66.1 76.4
2022 65.5 75.3
2021 62 77.6
2020 65.2 77.3
2019 66.1 77.2
2018 65.7 77.2
2017 65.4 77
2016 64.7 76.8
2015 64.1 76.6
2014 63.2 76.3
2013 62.4 76
2012 61.7 75.6
2011 60.6 75.3
2010 58.9 75
2009 57.4 74.7
2008 56 74.2
2007 54.9 73.8
2006 54.2 73.3
2005 53.9 72.9
2004 54 72.1
2003 54.2 72.1
2002 55.6 71.8
2001 57.2 71.5
2000 58.4 71.2
1999 59.2 71
1998 59.9 70.7
1997 60.5 70.4
1996 61.1 69.9
1995 61.6 69.8
1994 62.1 69.7
1993 62.6 69.6
1992 62.8 69.4
1991 63 69.1
1990 62.9 68.9
1989 63 68.6
1988 62.9 68.2
1987 62.7 67.8
1986 62.4 67.3
1985 62.2 66.5
1984 61.8 65.5
1983 61.4 64.5
1982 60.9 63.6
1981 60.4 62.9
1980 60 62.2
1979 59.5 61.7
1978 59 61.3
1977 58.5 60.9
1976 58 60.4
1975 57.6 59.7
1974 57.1 59
1973 56.7 58.3
1972 56.4 57.7
1971 56 57.1
1970 55.7 56.5
1969 55.4 55.7
1968 55.2 55
1967 55 54.3
1966 54.7 53.7
1965 54.4 53.1
1964 54.2 52.5
1963 53.9 52
1962 53.6 51.4
1961 53.1 51.1
1960 52.6 50.6
1959 51.9 50.1
1958 51.1 49.5
1957 50.2 49.1
1956 49.2 48.6
1955 48.2 48.1
1954 47.1 47.6
1953 46.1 47.1
1952 45 46.5
1951 44.1 45.9
1950 43.1 45.2

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

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

South Africa and Thailand population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year Population
South Africa Thailand
2024 64,007,187 71,668,011
2023 63,212,384 71,702,435
2022 62,378,410 71,735,329
2021 61,502,603 71,727,332
2020 60,562,381 71,641,484
2019 59,587,885 71,522,271
2018 58,613,001 71,376,079
2017 57,635,162 71,160,187
2016 57,259,551 70,859,841
2015 56,723,537 70,540,795
2014 55,594,838 70,216,367
2013 54,678,791 69,845,114
2012 53,782,567 69,436,098
2011 52,995,205 69,007,208
2010 52,344,051 68,579,447
2009 51,728,516 68,121,080
2008 51,114,599 67,619,830
2007 50,528,584 67,102,394
2006 49,998,277 66,567,687
2005 49,490,033 66,017,420
2004 48,991,421 65,452,047
2003 48,500,348 64,868,166
2002 48,019,415 64,266,437
2001 47,566,800 63,651,141
2000 47,159,719 63,007,815
1999 46,730,335 62,299,043
1998 46,223,880 61,522,630
1997 45,666,838 60,724,584
1996 45,123,018 59,920,064
1995 44,541,554 59,098,232
1994 44,004,139 58,260,854
1993 43,297,156 57,408,198
1992 42,443,509 56,528,834
1991 41,687,898 55,637,434
1990 40,746,268 54,738,329
1989 39,628,575 53,848,956
1988 38,480,649 52,969,595
1987 37,326,190 52,074,105
1986 36,180,515 51,177,834
1985 35,042,093 50,270,753
1984 33,892,788 49,351,708
1983 32,739,304 48,423,309
1982 31,615,339 47,494,577
1981 30,541,044 46,575,855
1980 29,518,857 45,650,022
1979 28,634,162 44,718,434
1978 27,869,507 43,788,976
1977 27,118,952 42,843,974
1976 26,395,450 41,896,504
1975 25,690,940 40,940,005
1974 24,989,108 39,952,891
1973 24,294,263 38,947,787
1972 23,609,456 37,933,929
1971 22,942,143 36,937,387
1970 22,279,984 35,954,408
1969 21,614,676 34,973,782
1968 20,957,287 34,002,560
1967 20,314,066 33,037,801
1966 19,690,087 32,086,071
1965 19,089,380 31,149,337
1964 18,511,361 30,232,141
1963 17,954,564 29,342,322
1962 17,418,522 28,481,040
1961 16,908,035 27,650,334
1960 16,440,172 26,851,747

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Thailand

Fertility rate
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Thailand
2023 2.22 1.21
2022 2.23 1.22
2021 2.25 1.23
2020 2.26 1.26
2019 2.26 1.29
2018 2.27 1.32
2017 2.28 1.36
2016 2.26 1.4
2015 2.36 1.45
2014 2.42 1.48
2013 2.43 1.53
2012 2.45 1.56
2011 2.44 1.57
2010 2.44 1.56
2009 2.5 1.57
2008 2.68 1.59
2007 2.55 1.62
2006 2.55 1.63
2005 2.51 1.64
2004 2.44 1.67
2003 2.36 1.67
2002 2.32 1.69
2001 2.37 1.71
2000 2.41 1.73
1999 2.56 1.77
1998 2.63 1.82
1997 2.73 1.85
1996 2.99 1.87
1995 3.17 1.89
1994 3.26 1.93
1993 3.37 1.97
1992 3.48 2.01
1991 3.62 2.04
1990 3.72 2.07
1989 3.98 2.14
1988 4.18 2.17
1987 4.35 2.26
1986 4.41 2.36
1985 4.5 2.45
1984 4.57 2.58
1983 4.63 2.76
1982 4.7 2.94
1981 4.71 3.13
1980 4.78 3.29
1979 4.82 3.45
1978 4.85 3.62
1977 4.94 3.87
1976 5.07 4.12
1975 5.19 4.36
1974 5.3 4.6
1973 5.41 4.85
1972 5.49 5.08
1971 5.57 5.25
1970 5.63 5.45
1969 5.72 5.7
1968 5.78 5.93
1967 5.85 6.08
1966 5.91 6.18
1965 5.89 6.26
1964 5.96 6.31
1963 6.01 6.34
1962 6.05 6.33
1961 6.08 6.32
1960 6.11 6.33

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

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

South Africa and Thailand demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Thailand
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Thailand
2024 29.5 41.1
2023 29.2 40.7
2022 28.9 40.2
2021 28.6 39.7
2020 28.3 39.2
2019 27.9 38.7
2018 27.5 38.2
2017 27 37.7
2016 26.7 37.3
2015 26.4 36.8
2014 26 36.3
2013 25.7 35.9
2012 25.3 35.4
2011 25 35
2010 24.6 34.5
2009 24.3 34
2008 24 33.6
2007 23.8 33.1
2006 23.5 32.6
2005 23.3 32.2
2004 23.1 31.7
2003 22.8 31.3
2002 22.4 30.9
2001 22.2 30.5
2000 21.9 30
1999 21.6 29.5
1998 21.4 28.9
1997 21.2 28.3
1996 21.2 27.7
1995 21.5 27.2
1994 22 26.6
1993 21.9 26
1992 21.5 25.4
1991 21.5 24.8
1990 21.3 24.3
1989 21.1 23.7
1988 20.9 23.3
1987 20.7 22.8
1986 20.5 22.4
1985 20.4 21.9
1984 20.2 21.5
1983 20 21
1982 19.8 20.6
1981 19.6 20.2
1980 19.4 19.9
1979 19.3 19.5
1978 19.2 19.2
1977 19.1 18.9
1976 19 18.7
1975 18.9 18.4
1974 18.9 18.2
1973 18.8 18
1972 18.8 17.8
1971 18.8 17.6
1970 18.8 17.5
1969 18.8 17.4
1968 18.8 17.3
1967 18.8 17.3
1966 18.8 17.3
1965 18.8 17.4
1964 18.9 17.5
1963 18.9 17.6
1962 18.9 17.7
1961 19 17.9
1960 19 18

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Thailand
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$509B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
22.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.52%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.08%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
455,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-1.29%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
0.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
32.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
62.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
3.4%
2023
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
100,001
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
0.18%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
25
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
860
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$520B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$237B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$9.46B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
39,916,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
5.97%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
91.8%
2024

Energy

South Africa Thailand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
1,851 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$12.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
283.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
3.96 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
79.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
1.02%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
57.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
2,965 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
19.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
3.45%
2023
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Thailand
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.88%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+27,509
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
61.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
56.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
4.81
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
32.2
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
93
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
91.1%
2022
English speaking
31%
2023
27.2%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
90.9%
2024

Health

South Africa Thailand
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$327
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$32.4
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
77.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
0.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.54
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
23.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
34
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
9.2
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
15.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
35
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
7.99 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Thailand
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
2,752 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
86,394 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
76,313 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
436,817 mi
2020

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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