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South Africa vs Turkmenistan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 7.49M in Turkmenistan (ranked 104/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 181,441 sq mi for Turkmenistan (ranked 24th vs. 53rd).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Turkmenistan ranks 92/197 ($51.4B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Turkmenistan ranks 104/197 ($6,857).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Turkmenistan
Population
65683993
7776557
Population rank 24/197 104/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$51.4B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 92/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$6,857
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 104/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$21,213
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$2.11B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
4.11%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$282
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 179/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$7,520
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 181,441 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
42.7 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
27.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
70.5 years
2026

South Africa and Turkmenistan: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Turkmenistan economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Turkmenistan
2024 $401,144,998,374 $51,387,209,872
2023 $381,440,724,491 $45,894,538,666
2022 $407,596,043,068 $42,208,726,138
2021 $419,986,284,375 $40,589,905,812
2020 $337,974,655,408 $41,509,903,182
2019 $389,330,032,224 $40,810,067,975
2018 $405,260,723,893 $40,765,428,571
2017 $381,448,814,653 $37,926,285,714
2016 $323,585,509,674 $36,169,428,571
2015 $346,709,790,459 $35,799,714,286
2014 $381,198,869,776 $43,524,210,526
2013 $400,886,013,596 $39,197,543,860
2012 $434,400,545,086 $35,164,210,526
2011 $458,199,494,831 $29,233,333,333
2010 $417,363,822,802 $22,583,157,895
2009 $329,754,060,647 $20,214,385,965
2008 $316,131,258,616 $19,271,523,179
2007 $333,077,117,254 $12,664,165,103
2006 $303,858,675,364 $10,276,674,365
2005 $288,867,217,197 $8,103,901,996
2004 $255,806,908,595 $6,838,351,088
2003 $197,018,965,309 $5,977,440,583
2002 $129,087,556,612 $4,462,029,109
2001 $135,429,905,923 $3,534,772,732
2000 $151,752,757,215 $2,904,663,311
1999 $151,516,957,079 $2,450,564,100
1998 $152,982,984,557 $2,605,689,134
1997 $168,978,057,328 $2,450,350,625
1996 $163,234,925,381 $2,378,759,975
1995 $171,735,933,897 $2,482,228,440
1994 $153,512,712,382 $2,561,118,608
1993 $147,194,747,566 $3,179,225,949
1992 $146,956,150,987 $3,200,539,816
1991 $135,203,698,238 $3,208,098,919
1990 $126,048,140,142 $3,189,539,641
1989 $108,055,624,082 $3,006,988,217
1988 $103,976,831,871 $3,010,982,414
1987 $96,535,763,418 $2,331,358,820
1986 $73,354,771,399 -
1985 $64,459,376,087 -
1984 $84,870,163,366 -
1983 $96,204,110,942 -
1982 $85,904,057,409 -
1981 $93,141,472,164 -
1980 $89,411,864,402 -
1979 $63,038,658,089 -
1978 $51,607,412,902 -
1977 $45,328,411,332 -
1976 $41,150,460,288 -
1975 $42,906,905,672 -
1974 $41,389,186,095 -
1973 $33,262,772,008 -
1972 $24,515,919,217 -
1971 $23,411,076,638 -
1970 $21,218,391,513 -
1969 $19,256,992,297 -
1968 $17,124,793,150 -
1967 $15,821,393,671 -
1966 $14,211,394,315 -
1965 $13,068,994,772 -
1964 $11,955,995,218 -
1963 $10,854,195,658 -
1962 $9,813,996,074 -
1961 $9,225,996,310 -
1960 $8,748,596,501 -

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

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

South Africa and Turkmenistan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Turkmenistan
2024 $6,267 $6,857
2023 $6,034 $6,232
2022 $6,534 $5,838
2021 $6,829 $5,723
2020 $5,581 $5,973
2019 $6,534 $5,998
2018 $6,914 $6,125
2017 $6,618 $5,828
2016 $5,651 $5,687
2015 $6,112 $5,759
2014 $6,857 $7,164
2013 $7,332 $6,600
2012 $8,077 $6,054
2011 $8,646 $5,144
2010 $7,973 $4,059
2009 $6,375 $3,708
2008 $6,185 $3,606
2007 $6,592 $2,415
2006 $6,077 $1,997
2005 $5,837 $1,604
2004 $5,221 $1,379
2003 $4,062 $1,229
2002 $2,688 $936
2001 $2,847 $756
2000 $3,218 $634
1999 $3,242 $546
1998 $3,310 $591
1997 $3,700 $565
1996 $3,618 $558
1995 $3,856 $592
1994 $3,489 $622
1993 $3,400 $788
1992 $3,462 $811
1991 $3,243 $832
1990 $3,093 $848
1989 $2,727 $821
1988 $2,702 $846
1987 $2,586 $675
1986 $2,027 -
1985 $1,839 -
1984 $2,504 -
1983 $2,938 -
1982 $2,717 -
1981 $3,050 -
1980 $3,029 -
1979 $2,202 -
1978 $1,852 -
1977 $1,671 -
1976 $1,559 -
1975 $1,670 -
1974 $1,656 -
1973 $1,369 -
1972 $1,038 -
1971 $1,020 -
1970 $952 -
1969 $891 -
1968 $817 -
1967 $779 -
1966 $722 -
1965 $685 -
1964 $646 -
1963 $605 -
1962 $563 -
1961 $546 -
1960 $532 -

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

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

South Africa vs. Turkmenistan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Turkmenistan
2026 66.7 70.5
2025 66.5 70.3
2024 66.3 70.2
2023 66.1 70.1
2022 65.5 69.9
2021 62 69.4
2020 65.2 68.8
2019 66.1 69.4
2018 65.7 69.3
2017 65.4 69.2
2016 64.7 69.1
2015 64.1 69.1
2014 63.2 69
2013 62.4 69
2012 61.7 69
2011 60.6 68.9
2010 58.9 68.6
2009 57.4 68.2
2008 56 67.6
2007 54.9 67
2006 54.2 66.6
2005 53.9 66.3
2004 54 66.1
2003 54.2 65.9
2002 55.6 65.6
2001 57.2 65.3
2000 58.4 64.9
1999 59.2 64.5
1998 59.9 64
1997 60.5 63.7
1996 61.1 63.5
1995 61.6 63.5
1994 62.1 63.5
1993 62.6 63.6
1992 62.8 63.8
1991 63 63.8
1990 62.9 63.9
1989 63 63.8
1988 62.9 63.7
1987 62.7 63.5
1986 62.4 63.2
1985 62.2 62.8
1984 61.8 62.4
1983 61.4 62
1982 60.9 61.6
1981 60.4 61
1980 60 60.2
1979 59.5 59.1
1978 59 58.3
1977 58.5 57.7
1976 58 57.4
1975 57.6 57.2
1974 57.1 57
1973 56.7 56.8
1972 56.4 56.6
1971 56 56.3
1970 55.7 56
1969 55.4 55.7
1968 55.2 55.3
1967 55 54.8
1966 54.7 54.4
1965 54.4 54
1964 54.2 53.6
1963 53.9 53.2
1962 53.6 52.9
1961 53.1 52.5
1960 52.6 52.1
1959 51.9 51.8
1958 51.1 51.4
1957 50.2 51
1956 49.2 50.6
1955 48.2 50.2
1954 47.1 49.8
1953 46.1 49.4
1952 45 49
1951 44.1 48.6
1950 43.1 48.1

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

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

South Africa and Turkmenistan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Population
South Africa Turkmenistan
2024 64,007,187 7,494,498
2023 63,212,384 7,364,438
2022 62,378,410 7,230,193
2021 61,502,603 7,092,043
2020 60,562,381 6,949,912
2019 59,587,885 6,803,944
2018 58,613,001 6,655,524
2017 57,635,162 6,507,061
2016 57,259,551 6,360,041
2015 56,723,537 6,215,770
2014 55,594,838 6,075,283
2013 54,678,791 5,939,341
2012 53,782,567 5,808,546
2011 52,995,205 5,683,417
2010 52,344,051 5,564,356
2009 51,728,516 5,451,592
2008 51,114,599 5,345,029
2007 50,528,584 5,244,046
2006 49,998,277 5,147,105
2005 49,490,033 5,052,257
2004 48,991,421 4,958,093
2003 48,500,348 4,863,865
2002 48,019,415 4,769,465
2001 47,566,800 4,675,409
2000 47,159,719 4,582,677
1999 46,730,335 4,492,170
1998 46,223,880 4,410,507
1997 45,666,838 4,336,730
1996 45,123,018 4,263,819
1995 44,541,554 4,191,203
1994 44,004,139 4,116,662
1993 43,297,156 4,032,407
1992 42,443,509 3,944,689
1991 41,687,898 3,855,894
1990 40,746,268 3,760,562
1989 39,628,575 3,662,459
1988 38,480,649 3,559,363
1987 37,326,190 3,452,731
1986 36,180,515 3,347,809
1985 35,042,093 3,247,534
1984 33,892,788 3,154,079
1983 32,739,304 3,067,534
1982 31,615,339 2,985,557
1981 30,541,044 2,907,187
1980 29,518,857 2,832,203
1979 28,634,162 2,760,358
1978 27,869,507 2,691,088
1977 27,118,952 2,623,948
1976 26,395,450 2,558,521
1975 25,690,940 2,494,570
1974 24,989,108 2,432,028
1973 24,294,263 2,370,919
1972 23,609,456 2,311,430
1971 22,942,143 2,253,119
1970 22,279,984 2,195,616
1969 21,614,676 2,139,024
1968 20,957,287 2,083,069
1967 20,314,066 2,027,403
1966 19,690,087 1,971,737
1965 19,089,380 1,915,916
1964 18,511,361 1,859,997
1963 17,954,564 1,804,272
1962 17,418,522 1,749,214
1961 16,908,035 1,695,400
1960 16,440,172 1,643,457

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Turkmenistan

Fertility rate
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Turkmenistan
2023 2.22 2.69
2022 2.23 2.73
2021 2.25 2.75
2020 2.26 2.79
2019 2.26 2.83
2018 2.27 2.88
2017 2.28 2.93
2016 2.26 2.99
2015 2.36 3.03
2014 2.42 3.02
2013 2.43 3.01
2012 2.45 2.96
2011 2.44 2.9
2010 2.44 2.85
2009 2.5 2.79
2008 2.68 2.75
2007 2.55 2.73
2006 2.55 2.72
2005 2.51 2.71
2004 2.44 2.67
2003 2.36 2.67
2002 2.32 2.71
2001 2.37 2.81
2000 2.41 2.9
1999 2.56 2.98
1998 2.63 3.08
1997 2.73 3.18
1996 2.99 3.29
1995 3.17 3.49
1994 3.26 3.62
1993 3.37 3.78
1992 3.48 3.96
1991 3.62 4.14
1990 3.72 4.29
1989 3.98 4.46
1988 4.18 4.68
1987 4.35 4.84
1986 4.41 4.94
1985 4.5 4.97
1984 4.57 4.96
1983 4.63 4.97
1982 4.7 5.04
1981 4.71 5.16
1980 4.78 5.3
1979 4.82 5.46
1978 4.85 5.61
1977 4.94 5.77
1976 5.07 5.9
1975 5.19 6
1974 5.3 6.09
1973 5.41 6.15
1972 5.49 6.2
1971 5.57 6.32
1970 5.63 6.4
1969 5.72 6.48
1968 5.78 6.56
1967 5.85 6.64
1966 5.91 6.7
1965 5.89 6.76
1964 5.96 6.79
1963 6.01 6.79
1962 6.05 6.76
1961 6.08 6.69
1960 6.11 6.59

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

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

South Africa and Turkmenistan demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Turkmenistan
2024 29.5 27.5
2023 29.2 27.2
2022 28.9 26.9
2021 28.6 26.7
2020 28.3 26.4
2019 27.9 26.2
2018 27.5 25.9
2017 27 25.7
2016 26.7 25.5
2015 26.4 25.3
2014 26 25
2013 25.7 24.8
2012 25.3 24.5
2011 25 24.3
2010 24.6 24
2009 24.3 23.7
2008 24 23.4
2007 23.8 23.1
2006 23.5 22.8
2005 23.3 22.4
2004 23.1 22.1
2003 22.8 21.8
2002 22.4 21.5
2001 22.2 21.2
2000 21.9 20.9
1999 21.6 20.6
1998 21.4 20.3
1997 21.2 20.1
1996 21.2 19.9
1995 21.5 19.7
1994 22 19.6
1993 21.9 19.5
1992 21.5 19.4
1991 21.5 19.4
1990 21.3 19.3
1989 21.1 19.3
1988 20.9 19.3
1987 20.7 19.3
1986 20.5 19.3
1985 20.4 19.3
1984 20.2 19.2
1983 20 19.1
1982 19.8 19
1981 19.6 18.8
1980 19.4 18.7
1979 19.3 18.5
1978 19.2 18.3
1977 19.1 18.2
1976 19 18
1975 18.9 17.9
1974 18.9 17.7
1973 18.8 17.6
1972 18.8 17.5
1971 18.8 17.4
1970 18.8 17.4
1969 18.8 17.4
1968 18.8 17.5
1967 18.8 17.7
1966 18.8 18
1965 18.8 18.4
1964 18.9 19
1963 18.9 19.7
1962 18.9 20.4
1961 19 20.9
1960 19 21.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Turkmenistan
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$48.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
14.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.71%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
2.9%
1999
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
57,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-0.08%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
4%
2010
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
50.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
37.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
47
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
31.5%
1998
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.4%
1998
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$1.51B
1999
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$4.42M
1996
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
380,000
1998
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
40.6%
2017

Energy

South Africa Turkmenistan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
5,626 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$3.26
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
81.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
10.9 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
100%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
0.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
0%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
-109.8%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
2,829 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
0.01%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
0.02%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Africa Turkmenistan
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.09%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+13,268
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
47.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.1:50.9
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.72 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.34 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
32.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
17
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
n/a
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
1.09
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
13.5
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
61
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
99.9%
2022
English speaking
31%
2023
2%
2025
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
21.3%
2017

Health

South Africa Turkmenistan
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$581
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$450
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
70.5 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
0.31%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
1.93
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
24.1 years
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
5
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
40
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
22.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
7.1%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
26
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
5.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
2.62 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Turkmenistan
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.32%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
24,210 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
152,812 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
15,934 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
n/a

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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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