Skip to content

South Africa vs Uganda statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 50M in Uganda (ranked 31/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 77,421 sq mi for Uganda (ranked 24th vs. 84th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Uganda ranks 89/197 ($53.9B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Uganda ranks 176/197 ($1,078).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Uganda
Population
65683993
53170946
Population rank 24/197 30/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$53.9B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 89/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$1,078
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 176/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$3,273
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$27.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
51.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$555
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 163/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$1,466
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 77,421 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
682 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
4.28
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
17.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
68.9 years
2026

South Africa and Uganda: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Uganda economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Uganda
2024 $401,144,998,374 $53,911,907,086
2023 $381,440,724,491 $48,768,955,863
2022 $407,596,043,068 $45,565,333,211
2021 $419,986,284,375 $40,529,788,749
2020 $337,974,655,408 $37,600,368,242
2019 $389,330,032,224 $35,353,061,003
2018 $405,260,723,893 $32,927,025,620
2017 $381,448,814,653 $30,744,473,841
2016 $323,585,509,674 $29,203,988,696
2015 $346,709,790,459 $32,387,183,730
2014 $381,198,869,776 $32,612,397,257
2013 $400,886,013,596 $28,915,786,517
2012 $434,400,545,086 $27,305,915,911
2011 $458,199,494,831 $27,871,725,241
2010 $417,363,822,802 $26,673,441,431
2009 $329,754,060,647 $25,127,805,567
2008 $316,131,258,616 $14,440,404,132
2007 $333,077,117,254 $11,902,564,495
2006 $303,858,675,364 $9,977,647,683
2005 $288,867,217,197 $9,239,221,763
2004 $255,806,908,595 $7,939,487,548
2003 $197,018,965,309 $6,606,884,275
2002 $129,087,556,612 $6,178,563,591
2001 $135,429,905,923 $5,840,503,869
2000 $151,752,757,215 $6,193,246,837
1999 $151,516,957,079 $5,998,563,258
1998 $152,982,984,557 $6,584,815,847
1997 $168,978,057,328 $6,269,333,313
1996 $163,234,925,381 $6,044,585,327
1995 $171,735,933,897 $5,755,818,842
1994 $153,512,712,382 $3,990,430,447
1993 $147,194,747,566 $3,220,439,044
1992 $146,956,150,987 $2,857,457,762
1991 $135,203,698,238 $3,321,729,160
1990 $126,048,140,142 $4,304,399,310
1989 $108,055,624,082 $5,276,480,799
1988 $103,976,831,871 $6,508,931,652
1987 $96,535,763,418 $6,269,522,042
1986 $73,354,771,399 $3,923,244,050
1985 $64,459,376,087 $3,519,695,444
1984 $84,870,163,366 $3,615,647,477
1983 $96,204,110,942 $2,240,333,333
1982 $85,904,057,409 $2,177,500,000
1981 $93,141,472,164 $1,337,300,000
1980 $89,411,864,402 $1,244,610,000
1979 $63,038,658,089 $2,139,025,000
1978 $51,607,412,902 $2,420,260,870
1977 $45,328,411,332 $2,936,470,588
1976 $41,150,460,288 $2,447,300,000
1975 $42,906,905,672 $2,359,555,556
1974 $41,389,186,095 $2,098,944,967
1973 $33,262,772,008 $1,701,829,789
1972 $24,515,919,217 $1,490,970,181
1971 $23,411,076,638 $1,417,191,656
1970 $21,218,391,513 $1,259,554,809
1969 $19,256,992,297 $1,168,556,629
1968 $17,124,793,150 $1,037,379,252
1967 $15,821,393,671 $967,240,655
1966 $14,211,394,315 $925,381,492
1965 $13,068,994,772 $884,502,310
1964 $11,955,995,218 $589,247,687
1963 $10,854,195,658 $516,315,231
1962 $9,813,996,074 $449,158,233
1961 $9,225,996,310 $441,667,335
1960 $8,748,596,501 $423,145,605

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

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

South Africa and Uganda economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Uganda
2024 $6,267 $1,078
2023 $6,034 $1,002
2022 $6,534 $963
2021 $6,829 $883
2020 $5,581 $846
2019 $6,534 $822
2018 $6,914 $792
2017 $6,618 $765
2016 $5,651 $753
2015 $6,112 $863
2014 $6,857 $896
2013 $7,332 $818
2012 $8,077 $795
2011 $8,646 $836
2010 $7,973 $823
2009 $6,375 $799
2008 $6,185 $473
2007 $6,592 $401
2006 $6,077 $347
2005 $5,837 $330
2004 $5,221 $292.4
2003 $4,062 $250.7
2002 $2,688 $242
2001 $2,847 $236
2000 $3,218 $258.1
1999 $3,242 $257.9
1998 $3,310 $292.5
1997 $3,700 $286.8
1996 $3,618 $284.7
1995 $3,856 $278.5
1994 $3,489 $198.4
1993 $3,400 $165.6
1992 $3,462 $152.1
1991 $3,243 $183
1990 $3,093 $245
1989 $2,727 $310
1988 $2,702 $395
1987 $2,586 $393
1986 $2,027 $253.6
1985 $1,839 $234.3
1984 $2,504 $247.5
1983 $2,938 $157.5
1982 $2,717 $157
1981 $3,050 $98.6
1980 $3,029 $93.8
1979 $2,202 $164.5
1978 $1,852 $190.7
1977 $1,671 $237.6
1976 $1,559 $203.3
1975 $1,670 $201.2
1974 $1,656 $183.7
1973 $1,369 $152.7
1972 $1,038 $137
1971 $1,020 $133.5
1970 $952 $122
1969 $891 $116.7
1968 $817 $106.9
1967 $779 $102.8
1966 $722 $101.4
1965 $685 $100
1964 $646 $68.6
1963 $605 $62
1962 $563 $55.5
1961 $546 $56.2
1960 $532 $55.4

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

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

South Africa vs. Uganda life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Uganda
2026 66.7 68.9
2025 66.5 68.7
2024 66.3 68.5
2023 66.1 68.3
2022 65.5 67.7
2021 62 66.4
2020 65.2 66.4
2019 66.1 66.4
2018 65.7 65.8
2017 65.4 65.2
2016 64.7 64.5
2015 64.1 63.8
2014 63.2 63.1
2013 62.4 62.4
2012 61.7 61.6
2011 60.6 60.8
2010 58.9 60
2009 57.4 59.2
2008 56 58.3
2007 54.9 57.2
2006 54.2 56.1
2005 53.9 54.9
2004 54 53.7
2003 54.2 52.4
2002 55.6 51.4
2001 57.2 50.6
2000 58.4 49.6
1999 59.2 49
1998 59.9 48.3
1997 60.5 48
1996 61.1 47.8
1995 61.6 47.7
1994 62.1 47.7
1993 62.6 47.7
1992 62.8 47.7
1991 63 47.5
1990 62.9 47.6
1989 63 47.5
1988 62.9 47.5
1987 62.7 47.4
1986 62.4 45.7
1985 62.2 45.5
1984 61.8 43.7
1983 61.4 43.5
1982 60.9 43.3
1981 60.4 43.5
1980 60 43.5
1979 59.5 45.4
1978 59 45.6
1977 58.5 45.8
1976 58 46.2
1975 57.6 46.5
1974 57.1 46.9
1973 56.7 47
1972 56.4 47.2
1971 56 47.1
1970 55.7 49.6
1969 55.4 49.5
1968 55.2 49.3
1967 55 49
1966 54.7 48.5
1965 54.4 48.3
1964 54.2 47.8
1963 53.9 47.4
1962 53.6 46.8
1961 53.1 46.3
1960 52.6 45.6
1959 51.9 45
1958 51.1 44.3
1957 50.2 43.7
1956 49.2 43
1955 48.2 42.4
1954 47.1 41.8
1953 46.1 41.3
1952 45 40.8
1951 44.1 40.2
1950 43.1 39.7

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

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

South Africa and Uganda population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year Population
South Africa Uganda
2024 64,007,187 50,015,092
2023 63,212,384 48,656,601
2022 62,378,410 47,312,719
2021 61,502,603 45,910,930
2020 60,562,381 44,457,152
2019 59,587,885 42,999,637
2018 58,613,001 41,565,831
2017 57,635,162 40,177,388
2016 57,259,551 38,799,152
2015 56,723,537 37,531,446
2014 55,594,838 36,395,539
2013 54,678,791 35,337,042
2012 53,782,567 34,337,438
2011 52,995,205 33,354,543
2010 52,344,051 32,390,802
2009 51,728,516 31,451,151
2008 51,114,599 30,539,553
2007 50,528,584 29,653,430
2006 49,998,277 28,794,003
2005 49,490,033 27,963,289
2004 48,991,421 27,154,515
2003 48,500,348 26,352,124
2002 48,019,415 25,532,870
2001 47,566,800 24,745,676
2000 47,159,719 24,000,150
1999 46,730,335 23,257,281
1998 46,223,880 22,515,806
1997 45,666,838 21,856,046
1996 45,123,018 21,231,550
1995 44,541,554 20,665,667
1994 44,004,139 20,108,801
1993 43,297,156 19,445,161
1992 42,443,509 18,785,032
1991 41,687,898 18,155,901
1990 40,746,268 17,569,897
1989 39,628,575 17,010,698
1988 38,480,649 16,470,483
1987 37,326,190 15,954,170
1986 36,180,515 15,467,579
1985 35,042,093 15,023,681
1984 33,892,788 14,607,677
1983 32,739,304 14,221,881
1982 31,615,339 13,873,631
1981 30,541,044 13,556,452
1980 29,518,857 13,275,741
1979 28,634,162 13,002,163
1978 27,869,507 12,692,113
1977 27,118,952 12,359,669
1976 26,395,450 12,037,294
1975 25,690,940 11,725,240
1974 24,989,108 11,424,846
1973 24,294,263 11,144,236
1972 23,609,456 10,885,796
1971 22,942,143 10,618,206
1970 22,279,984 10,321,603
1969 21,614,676 10,014,858
1968 20,957,287 9,708,632
1967 20,314,066 9,408,924
1966 19,690,087 9,122,864
1965 19,089,380 8,849,203
1964 18,511,361 8,586,363
1963 17,954,564 8,333,663
1962 17,418,522 8,092,231
1961 16,908,035 7,862,217
1960 16,440,172 7,640,973

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Uganda

Fertility rate
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Uganda
2023 2.22 4.28
2022 2.23 4.39
2021 2.25 4.51
2020 2.26 4.62
2019 2.26 4.74
2018 2.27 4.87
2017 2.28 4.99
2016 2.26 5.11
2015 2.36 5.25
2014 2.42 5.41
2013 2.43 5.56
2012 2.45 5.73
2011 2.44 5.89
2010 2.44 6.02
2009 2.5 6.12
2008 2.68 6.2
2007 2.55 6.33
2006 2.55 6.43
2005 2.51 6.53
2004 2.44 6.61
2003 2.36 6.67
2002 2.32 6.74
2001 2.37 6.76
2000 2.41 6.79
1999 2.56 6.83
1998 2.63 6.84
1997 2.73 6.86
1996 2.99 6.84
1995 3.17 6.87
1994 3.26 6.9
1993 3.37 6.89
1992 3.48 6.91
1991 3.62 6.94
1990 3.72 7.01
1989 3.98 7.05
1988 4.18 7.1
1987 4.35 7.12
1986 4.41 7.08
1985 4.5 7.04
1984 4.57 7.02
1983 4.63 7.07
1982 4.7 7.11
1981 4.71 7.12
1980 4.78 7.11
1979 4.82 7.14
1978 4.85 7.16
1977 4.94 7.18
1976 5.07 7.19
1975 5.19 7.2
1974 5.3 7.19
1973 5.41 7.19
1972 5.49 7.19
1971 5.57 7.18
1970 5.63 7.15
1969 5.72 7.12
1968 5.78 7.13
1967 5.85 7.1
1966 5.91 7.07
1965 5.89 7.04
1964 5.96 7.01
1963 6.01 6.98
1962 6.05 6.96
1961 6.08 6.93
1960 6.11 6.91

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

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

South Africa and Uganda demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Uganda
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Uganda
2024 29.5 17.8
2023 29.2 17.6
2022 28.9 17.4
2021 28.6 17.2
2020 28.3 17
2019 27.9 16.8
2018 27.5 16.5
2017 27 16.3
2016 26.7 16
2015 26.4 15.8
2014 26 15.6
2013 25.7 15.5
2012 25.3 15.4
2011 25 15.3
2010 24.6 15.2
2009 24.3 15.1
2008 24 15.1
2007 23.8 15
2006 23.5 15
2005 23.3 15
2004 23.1 15
2003 22.8 15
2002 22.4 15
2001 22.2 15
2000 21.9 15
1999 21.6 15
1998 21.4 15
1997 21.2 15.1
1996 21.2 15.3
1995 21.5 15.4
1994 22 15.6
1993 21.9 15.7
1992 21.5 15.7
1991 21.5 15.8
1990 21.3 15.8
1989 21.1 15.8
1988 20.9 15.9
1987 20.7 15.9
1986 20.5 15.9
1985 20.4 15.9
1984 20.2 15.9
1983 20 15.9
1982 19.8 15.9
1981 19.6 15.9
1980 19.4 16
1979 19.3 16.1
1978 19.2 16.1
1977 19.1 16.2
1976 19 16.2
1975 18.9 16.2
1974 18.9 16.3
1973 18.8 16.3
1972 18.8 16.5
1971 18.8 16.6
1970 18.8 16.6
1969 18.8 16.6
1968 18.8 16.6
1967 18.8 16.6
1966 18.8 16.6
1965 18.8 16.6
1964 18.9 16.6
1963 18.9 16.7
1962 18.9 16.8
1961 19 16.9
1960 19 17.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Uganda
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$50.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
18.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.55%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.88%
2024
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
46,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-3.99%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
3.42%
2021
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
43.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
24.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
52.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
34.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.4%
2019
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
$3.36B
2018
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$1.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
473,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
9.21%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
72.8%
2024

Energy

South Africa Uganda
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
483 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$6.05
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
8.25 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
0.17 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
0%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
90.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
1.93%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
20.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
89.9 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
90%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
86.2%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
51.5%
2023

Society

South Africa Uganda
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.62%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-119,059
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
31.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.6:50.4
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.53 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
27.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
25
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
67
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
8.77
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
29.4
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
72
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
80.6%
2022
English speaking
31%
2023
44.7%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
8.95%
2024

Health

South Africa Uganda
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$45.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$14.5
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
68.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
44.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.19
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
19.4 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
170
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
38.8
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
8.05%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
2.2%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
8
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
7.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
11.3 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Uganda
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.13%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
1,548 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
55,657 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
8,549 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
90,720 mi
2019

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.