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South Africa vs Turkey statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 85.5M in Turkey (ranked 18/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 297,156 sq mi for Turkey (ranked 24th vs. 36th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Turkey ranks 17/197 ($1.36T). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Turkey ranks 66/197 ($15,893).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Turkey
Population
65683993
86002379
Population rank 24/197 18/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$1.36T
2024
GDP rank 40/197 17/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$15,893
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 66/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$45,639
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$327B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
24%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$3,820
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 92/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$10,928
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 297,156 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
289.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.51
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
34 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
78.4 years
2026

South Africa and Turkey: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Turkey economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Turkey
2024 $401,144,998,374 $1,359,123,768,774
2023 $381,440,724,491 $1,141,242,864,657
2022 $407,596,043,068 $926,097,476,914
2021 $419,986,284,375 $839,938,668,172
2020 $337,974,655,408 $733,628,247,119
2019 $389,330,032,224 $775,853,144,223
2018 $405,260,723,893 $788,356,985,774
2017 $381,448,814,653 $863,874,522,365
2016 $323,585,509,674 $870,818,016,910
2015 $346,709,790,459 $865,460,050,684
2014 $381,198,869,776 $942,343,431,929
2013 $400,886,013,596 $962,167,643,589
2012 $434,400,545,086 $885,327,622,479
2011 $458,199,494,831 $844,192,507,381
2010 $417,363,822,802 $782,545,664,268
2009 $329,754,060,647 $653,894,449,921
2008 $316,131,258,616 $775,415,944,333
2007 $333,077,117,254 $685,228,481,017
2006 $303,858,675,364 $559,668,118,237
2005 $288,867,217,197 $508,314,210,213
2004 $255,806,908,595 $410,156,784,496
2003 $197,018,965,309 $315,392,899,922
2002 $129,087,556,612 $240,778,008,474
2001 $135,429,905,923 $202,195,080,239
2000 $151,752,757,215 $274,748,463,179
1999 $151,516,957,079 $256,673,939,248
1998 $152,982,984,557 $276,035,372,655
1997 $168,978,057,328 $263,817,553,748
1996 $163,234,925,381 $250,366,965,174
1995 $171,735,933,897 $234,699,627,004
1994 $153,512,712,382 $130,650,447,499
1993 $147,194,747,566 $180,415,757,852
1992 $146,956,150,987 $159,104,772,992
1991 $135,203,698,238 $151,034,731,544
1990 $126,048,140,142 $150,655,500,192
1989 $108,055,624,082 $107,127,191,329
1988 $103,976,831,871 $90,875,175,809
1987 $96,535,763,418 $87,190,081,680
1986 $73,354,771,399 $75,673,037,037
1985 $64,459,376,087 $67,232,758,621
1984 $84,870,163,366 $59,937,602,180
1983 $96,204,110,942 $61,803,555,556
1982 $85,904,057,409 $64,369,325,153
1981 $93,141,472,164 $71,180,180,180
1980 $89,411,864,402 $68,823,684,211
1979 $63,038,658,089 $89,616,129,032
1978 $51,607,412,902 $65,912,500,000
1977 $45,328,411,332 $58,683,333,333
1976 $41,150,460,288 $51,450,000,000
1975 $42,906,905,672 $46,042,857,143
1974 $41,389,186,095 $35,414,285,714
1973 $33,262,772,008 $26,000,000,000
1972 $24,515,919,217 $20,650,000,000
1971 $23,411,076,638 $16,166,666,667
1970 $21,218,391,513 $17,863,636,364
1969 $19,256,992,297 $19,466,666,667
1968 $17,124,793,150 $17,500,000,000
1967 $15,821,393,671 $15,644,444,444
1966 $14,211,394,315 $14,100,000,000
1965 $13,068,994,772 $11,966,666,667
1964 $11,955,995,218 $11,177,777,778
1963 $10,854,195,658 $10,355,555,556
1962 $9,813,996,074 $8,922,222,222
1961 $9,225,996,310 $7,988,888,889
1960 $8,748,596,501 $7,566,666,667

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

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

South Africa and Turkey economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Turkey
2024 $6,267 $15,893
2023 $6,034 $13,375
2022 $6,534 $10,898
2021 $6,829 $9,982
2020 $5,581 $8,798
2019 $6,534 $9,395
2018 $6,914 $9,684
2017 $6,618 $10,756
2016 $5,651 $10,984
2015 $6,112 $11,065
2014 $6,857 $12,209
2013 $7,332 $12,636
2012 $8,077 $11,777
2011 $8,646 $11,374
2010 $7,973 $10,699
2009 $6,375 $9,077
2008 $6,185 $10,913
2007 $6,592 $9,767
2006 $6,077 $7,990
2005 $5,837 $7,332
2004 $5,221 $5,980
2003 $4,062 $4,650
2002 $2,688 $3,591
2001 $2,847 $3,052
2000 $3,218 $4,199
1999 $3,242 $3,974
1998 $3,310 $4,331
1997 $3,700 $4,197
1996 $3,618 $4,041
1995 $3,856 $3,846
1994 $3,489 $2,176
1993 $3,400 $3,058
1992 $3,462 $2,744
1991 $3,243 $2,649
1990 $3,093 $2,690
1989 $2,727 $1,949
1988 $2,702 $1,686
1987 $2,586 $1,650
1986 $2,027 $1,461
1985 $1,839 $1,326
1984 $2,504 $1,209
1983 $2,938 $1,276
1982 $2,717 $1,360
1981 $3,050 $1,537
1980 $3,029 $1,516
1979 $2,202 $2,013
1978 $1,852 $1,510
1977 $1,671 $1,372
1976 $1,559 $1,228
1975 $1,670 $1,122
1974 $1,656 $881
1973 $1,369 $661
1972 $1,038 $537
1971 $1,020 $431
1970 $952 $488
1969 $891 $544
1968 $817 $501
1967 $779 $459
1966 $722 $425
1965 $685 $370
1964 $646 $354
1963 $605 $337
1962 $563 $298.2
1961 $546 $274.4
1960 $532 $267.1

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

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

South Africa vs. Turkey life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Turkey
2026 66.7 78.4
2025 66.5 77.8
2024 66.3 77.4
2023 66.1 77.2
2022 65.5 77.6
2021 62 75.7
2020 65.2 76.5
2019 66.1 77.7
2018 65.7 77.5
2017 65.4 77
2016 64.7 76.6
2015 64.1 76.5
2014 63.2 76.5
2013 62.4 76.2
2012 61.7 75.6
2011 60.6 74.8
2010 58.9 75
2009 57.4 74.7
2008 56 74.4
2007 54.9 74.1
2006 54.2 73.8
2005 53.9 73.5
2004 54 73.2
2003 54.2 72.9
2002 55.6 72.6
2001 57.2 72.3
2000 58.4 71.9
1999 59.2 70.8
1998 59.9 71.1
1997 60.5 70.7
1996 61.1 70.2
1995 61.6 69.7
1994 62.1 69.4
1993 62.6 69
1992 62.8 68.6
1991 63 68.3
1990 62.9 67.8
1989 63 67.4
1988 62.9 66.9
1987 62.7 66.4
1986 62.4 65.9
1985 62.2 65.3
1984 61.8 64.8
1983 61.4 64.3
1982 60.9 63.7
1981 60.4 63.2
1980 60 62.7
1979 59.5 62.2
1978 59 61.6
1977 58.5 60.8
1976 58 60
1975 57.6 59.5
1974 57.1 59
1973 56.7 58.5
1972 56.4 58
1971 56 57.2
1970 55.7 56.7
1969 55.4 56.2
1968 55.2 55.6
1967 55 55.2
1966 54.7 54.6
1965 54.4 54.1
1964 54.2 53.6
1963 53.9 53.1
1962 53.6 52.3
1961 53.1 51.6
1960 52.6 50.8
1959 51.9 50.1
1958 51.1 49.2
1957 50.2 49.2
1956 49.2 49.5
1955 48.2 49.1
1954 47.1 48.8
1953 46.1 48.2
1952 45 48.1
1951 44.1 47.6
1950 43.1 47.3

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

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

South Africa and Turkey population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year Population
South Africa Turkey
2024 64,007,187 85,518,661
2023 63,212,384 85,325,965
2022 62,378,410 84,979,913
2021 61,502,603 84,147,318
2020 60,562,381 83,384,680
2019 59,587,885 82,579,440
2018 58,613,001 81,407,204
2017 57,635,162 80,312,698
2016 57,259,551 79,277,962
2015 56,723,537 78,218,479
2014 55,594,838 77,181,884
2013 54,678,791 76,147,624
2012 53,782,567 75,175,827
2011 52,995,205 74,223,629
2010 52,344,051 73,142,150
2009 51,728,516 72,039,206
2008 51,114,599 71,051,678
2007 50,528,584 70,158,112
2006 49,998,277 70,045,349
2005 49,490,033 69,329,557
2004 48,991,421 68,592,617
2003 48,500,348 67,831,730
2002 48,019,415 67,048,795
2001 47,566,800 66,245,128
2000 47,159,719 65,425,961
1999 46,730,335 64,591,923
1998 46,223,880 63,734,383
1997 45,666,838 62,852,966
1996 45,123,018 61,951,134
1995 44,541,554 61,024,503
1994 44,004,139 60,033,836
1993 43,297,156 58,999,167
1992 42,443,509 57,990,118
1991 41,687,898 57,009,887
1990 40,746,268 56,015,628
1989 39,628,575 54,976,723
1988 38,480,649 53,909,626
1987 37,326,190 52,843,670
1986 36,180,515 51,777,772
1985 35,042,093 50,687,115
1984 33,892,788 49,574,069
1983 32,739,304 48,447,410
1982 31,615,339 47,322,096
1981 30,541,044 46,321,190
1980 29,518,857 45,408,815
1979 28,634,162 44,510,429
1978 27,869,507 43,645,306
1977 27,118,952 42,773,298
1976 26,395,450 41,899,984
1975 25,690,940 41,053,126
1974 24,989,108 40,210,234
1973 24,294,263 39,329,533
1972 23,609,456 38,430,221
1971 22,942,143 37,518,611
1970 22,279,984 36,638,465
1969 21,614,676 35,787,774
1968 20,957,287 34,921,684
1967 20,314,066 34,050,421
1966 19,690,087 33,177,672
1965 19,089,380 32,345,220
1964 18,511,361 31,543,072
1963 17,954,564 30,726,841
1962 17,418,522 29,916,147
1961 16,908,035 29,119,238
1960 16,440,172 28,329,898

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Turkey

Fertility rate
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Turkey
2023 2.22 1.51
2022 2.23 1.63
2021 2.25 1.71
2020 2.26 1.77
2019 2.26 1.89
2018 2.27 2
2017 2.28 2.08
2016 2.26 2.11
2015 2.36 2.16
2014 2.42 2.19
2013 2.43 2.11
2012 2.45 2.11
2011 2.44 2.05
2010 2.44 2.08
2009 2.5 2.1
2008 2.68 2.15
2007 2.55 2.16
2006 2.55 2.19
2005 2.51 2.2
2004 2.44 2.2
2003 2.36 2.2
2002 2.32 2.27
2001 2.37 2.39
2000 2.41 2.49
1999 2.56 2.63
1998 2.63 2.71
1997 2.73 2.74
1996 2.99 2.78
1995 3.17 2.84
1994 3.26 2.87
1993 3.37 2.92
1992 3.48 2.94
1991 3.62 3
1990 3.72 3.11
1989 3.98 3.34
1988 4.18 3.45
1987 4.35 3.54
1986 4.41 3.66
1985 4.5 3.78
1984 4.57 3.91
1983 4.63 4.06
1982 4.7 4.21
1981 4.71 4.35
1980 4.78 4.45
1979 4.82 4.58
1978 4.85 4.69
1977 4.94 4.78
1976 5.07 4.93
1975 5.19 5.09
1974 5.3 5.24
1973 5.41 5.41
1972 5.49 5.55
1971 5.57 5.67
1970 5.63 5.78
1969 5.72 5.87
1968 5.78 5.96
1967 5.85 6.06
1966 5.91 6.15
1965 5.89 6.22
1964 5.96 6.29
1963 6.01 6.34
1962 6.05 6.38
1961 6.08 6.42
1960 6.11 6.38

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

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

South Africa and Turkey demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Turkey
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Turkey
2024 29.5 34
2023 29.2 33.5
2022 28.9 33.1
2021 28.6 32.7
2020 28.3 32.3
2019 27.9 31.8
2018 27.5 31.5
2017 27 31.2
2016 26.7 30.9
2015 26.4 30.6
2014 26 30.4
2013 25.7 30.1
2012 25.3 29.8
2011 25 29.5
2010 24.6 29.1
2009 24.3 28.6
2008 24 28.3
2007 23.8 27.9
2006 23.5 27.5
2005 23.3 27
2004 23.1 26.6
2003 22.8 26.2
2002 22.4 25.8
2001 22.2 25.4
2000 21.9 25
1999 21.6 24.7
1998 21.4 24.3
1997 21.2 24
1996 21.2 23.6
1995 21.5 23.3
1994 22 23
1993 21.9 22.7
1992 21.5 22.4
1991 21.5 22.1
1990 21.3 21.8
1989 21.1 21.6
1988 20.9 21.3
1987 20.7 21.1
1986 20.5 20.9
1985 20.4 20.6
1984 20.2 20.4
1983 20 20.2
1982 19.8 20
1981 19.6 19.9
1980 19.4 19.8
1979 19.3 19.7
1978 19.2 19.5
1977 19.1 19.4
1976 19 19.3
1975 18.9 19.1
1974 18.9 19
1973 18.8 18.9
1972 18.8 18.8
1971 18.8 18.7
1970 18.8 18.6
1969 18.8 18.6
1968 18.8 18.6
1967 18.8 18.7
1966 18.8 18.8
1965 18.8 18.9
1964 18.9 18.9
1963 18.9 19
1962 18.9 19.1
1961 19 19.3
1960 19 19.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Turkey
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$1.15T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
32.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
3.1%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
512,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-4.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
8.71%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
55
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
35.2%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.1%
2022
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
60,787
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
0.1%
2025
Number of billionaires
7
2025
32
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.00005%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
551
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$379B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$155B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$982M
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
15,971,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
6.63%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
81.6%
2024

Energy

South Africa Turkey
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
1,850 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$23.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
460 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
5.38 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
81.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
12%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
15.3%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
72%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
3,581 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
35.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
19.3%
2023
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Turkey
% of world population
0.79%
2024
1.05%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-258,205
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
89.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.79 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
58
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
31
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
75
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
3.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
6.7
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
121
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
97.3%
2021
English speaking
31%
2023
15%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
87.3%
2024

Health

South Africa Turkey
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$548
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$104.3
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
78.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
2.24
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
27.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
15
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
12.8
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
34.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
16.5%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
48
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
30.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
1.69 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Turkey
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.52%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
3,475 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
148,989 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
87,600 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
272,554 mi
2024

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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