South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 24th vs. 117th).
By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).
Main facts and rankings
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
65683993
|
11686438
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 84/197 |
| GDP |
$401B
2024 |
$552B
2024 |
| GDP rank | 40/197 | 27/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$6,267
2024 |
$50,274
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 111/197 | 24/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$15,456
2024 |
$79,229
2024 |
| Government debt |
$305B
2024 |
$193B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
76%
2024 |
34.9%
2024 |
| Government debt per person |
$4,761
2024 |
$17,568
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | 83/185 | 36/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$15,431
2026 |
$40,522
2026 |
| Land area | 468,377 sq mi | 27,421 sq mi |
| Population density |
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026 |
424 ppl/mi²
2026 |
| Fertility rate |
2.22
2023 |
1.2
2023 |
| Median age |
29.5 years
2024 |
32.6 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
South Africa and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts
South Africa and United Arab Emirates economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2024 | $401,144,998,374 | $552,324,846,835 |
| 2023 | $381,440,724,491 | $522,622,191,967 |
| 2022 | $407,596,043,068 | $511,403,403,676 |
| 2021 | $419,986,284,375 | $422,441,388,700 |
| 2020 | $337,974,655,408 | $357,161,878,829 |
| 2019 | $389,330,032,224 | $433,926,208,305 |
| 2018 | $405,260,723,893 | $440,560,108,918 |
| 2017 | $381,448,814,653 | $403,365,010,211 |
| 2016 | $323,585,509,674 | $381,717,086,453 |
| 2015 | $346,709,790,459 | $381,973,042,886 |
| 2014 | $381,198,869,776 | $424,935,874,745 |
| 2013 | $400,886,013,596 | $409,632,675,289 |
| 2012 | $434,400,545,086 | $392,793,464,942 |
| 2011 | $458,199,494,831 | $368,881,143,635 |
| 2010 | $417,363,822,802 | $307,736,419,333 |
| 2009 | $329,754,060,647 | $253,547,358,747 |
| 2008 | $316,131,258,616 | $315,474,615,739 |
| 2007 | $333,077,117,254 | $257,916,133,424 |
| 2006 | $303,858,675,364 | $222,116,541,865 |
| 2005 | $288,867,217,197 | $180,617,467,965 |
| 2004 | $255,806,908,595 | $147,824,370,320 |
| 2003 | $197,018,965,309 | $124,346,358,067 |
| 2002 | $129,087,556,612 | $109,816,201,498 |
| 2001 | $135,429,905,923 | $103,311,640,572 |
| 2000 | $151,752,757,215 | $104,337,372,362 |
| 1999 | $151,516,957,079 | $84,445,473,111 |
| 1998 | $152,982,984,557 | $75,674,336,283 |
| 1997 | $168,978,057,328 | $78,839,008,445 |
| 1996 | $163,234,925,381 | $73,571,233,996 |
| 1995 | $171,735,933,897 | $65,743,666,576 |
| 1994 | $153,512,712,382 | $59,305,093,980 |
| 1993 | $147,194,747,566 | $55,625,170,253 |
| 1992 | $146,956,150,987 | $54,239,171,888 |
| 1991 | $135,203,698,238 | $51,552,165,622 |
| 1990 | $126,048,140,142 | $50,701,443,748 |
| 1989 | $108,055,624,082 | $41,464,995,914 |
| 1988 | $103,976,831,871 | $36,275,674,203 |
| 1987 | $96,535,763,418 | $36,384,908,744 |
| 1986 | $73,354,771,399 | $33,943,612,095 |
| 1985 | $64,459,376,087 | $40,603,650,232 |
| 1984 | $84,870,163,366 | $41,807,954,236 |
| 1983 | $96,204,110,942 | $42,803,323,345 |
| 1982 | $85,904,057,409 | $46,622,718,605 |
| 1981 | $93,141,472,164 | $49,333,424,135 |
| 1980 | $89,411,864,402 | $43,599,160,050 |
| 1979 | $63,038,658,089 | $31,225,659,621 |
| 1978 | $51,607,412,902 | $23,775,764,225 |
| 1977 | $45,328,411,332 | $24,871,775,165 |
| 1976 | $41,150,460,288 | $19,213,158,779 |
| 1975 | $42,906,905,672 | $14,720,728,249 |
| 1974 | $41,389,186,095 | $11,651,505,689 |
| 1973 | $33,262,772,008 | $4,231,243,616 |
| 1972 | $24,515,919,217 | $1,415,086,929 |
| 1971 | $23,411,076,638 | $939,893,600 |
| 1970 | $21,218,391,513 | $685,986,701 |
| 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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY 
South Africa and United Arab Emirates economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2024 | $6,267 | $50,274 |
| 2023 | $6,034 | $49,851 |
| 2022 | $6,534 | $50,760 |
| 2021 | $6,829 | $44,119 |
| 2020 | $5,581 | $37,992 |
| 2019 | $6,534 | $45,939 |
| 2018 | $6,914 | $47,135 |
| 2017 | $6,618 | $43,734 |
| 2016 | $5,651 | $42,721 |
| 2015 | $6,112 | $44,910 |
| 2014 | $6,857 | $52,725 |
| 2013 | $7,332 | $53,247 |
| 2012 | $8,077 | $53,142 |
| 2011 | $8,646 | $51,922 |
| 2010 | $7,973 | $44,795 |
| 2009 | $6,375 | $37,803 |
| 2008 | $6,185 | $50,054 |
| 2007 | $6,592 | $45,855 |
| 2006 | $6,077 | $44,343 |
| 2005 | $5,837 | $38,719 |
| 2004 | $5,221 | $33,377 |
| 2003 | $4,062 | $29,660 |
| 2002 | $2,688 | $27,754 |
| 2001 | $2,847 | $27,745 |
| 2000 | $3,218 | $29,866 |
| 1999 | $3,242 | $25,856 |
| 1998 | $3,310 | $24,889 |
| 1997 | $3,700 | $27,983 |
| 1996 | $3,618 | $28,323 |
| 1995 | $3,856 | $27,003 |
| 1994 | $3,489 | $25,473 |
| 1993 | $3,400 | $25,033 |
| 1992 | $3,462 | $25,648 |
| 1991 | $3,243 | $25,691 |
| 1990 | $3,093 | $26,710 |
| 1989 | $2,727 | $23,167 |
| 1988 | $2,702 | $21,570 |
| 1987 | $2,586 | $23,113 |
| 1986 | $2,027 | $23,132 |
| 1985 | $1,839 | $29,468 |
| 1984 | $2,504 | $32,012 |
| 1983 | $2,938 | $34,650 |
| 1982 | $2,717 | $39,972 |
| 1981 | $3,050 | $44,854 |
| 1980 | $3,029 | $42,925 |
| 1979 | $2,202 | $34,238 |
| 1978 | $1,852 | $29,379 |
| 1977 | $1,671 | $35,020 |
| 1976 | $1,559 | $31,197 |
| 1975 | $1,670 | $27,117 |
| 1974 | $1,656 | $23,823 |
| 1973 | $1,369 | $9,696 |
| 1972 | $1,038 | $3,675 |
| 1971 | $1,020 | $2,805 |
| 1970 | $952 | $2,394 |
| 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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
South Africa vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2026 | 66.7 | 83.4 |
| 2025 | 66.5 | 83.2 |
| 2024 | 66.3 | 83.1 |
| 2023 | 66.1 | 82.9 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 80.5 |
| 2021 | 62 | 79.1 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 81.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 82.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 82.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 82.4 |
| 2016 | 64.7 | 82.2 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 82.1 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 82 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 82 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 81.9 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 81.9 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 81.9 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 81.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 81.6 |
| 2007 | 54.9 | 81.4 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 81.2 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 80.8 |
| 2004 | 54 | 80.3 |
| 2003 | 54.2 | 79.6 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 78.7 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 77.6 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 76.3 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 75 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 73.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 72.6 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 71.8 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 71.4 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 71.2 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 71.2 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 71.2 |
| 1991 | 63 | 71.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 71.1 |
| 1989 | 63 | 71 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 70.8 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 70.6 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 70.4 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 70.1 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 69.8 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 69.4 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 69.1 |
| 1981 | 60.4 | 68.6 |
| 1980 | 60 | 68.2 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 67.6 |
| 1978 | 59 | 67.1 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 66.5 |
| 1976 | 58 | 65.8 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 65.1 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 64.4 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 63.5 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 62.7 |
| 1971 | 56 | 61.8 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 60.8 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 59.8 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 58.7 |
| 1967 | 55 | 57.6 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 56.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 55.5 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 54.5 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 53.5 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 52.5 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 51.6 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 50.7 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 49.7 |
| 1958 | 51.1 | 48.8 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 47.8 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 46.9 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 46 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 45.2 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 44.4 |
| 1952 | 45 | 43.6 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 42.9 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 42.1 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
South Africa and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 10,986,400 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 10,483,751 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 10,074,977 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 9,575,152 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 9,401,038 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 9,445,785 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 9,346,701 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 9,223,225 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 8,935,095 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 8,505,237 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 8,059,440 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 7,693,031 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 7,391,448 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 7,104,538 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 6,869,838 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 6,707,058 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 6,302,664 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 5,624,635 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 5,009,100 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 4,664,790 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 4,428,967 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 4,192,457 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 3,956,826 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 3,723,590 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 3,493,575 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 3,266,009 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 3,040,421 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 2,817,410 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 2,597,564 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 2,434,662 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 2,328,188 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 2,222,093 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 2,114,730 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 2,006,626 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 1,898,220 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 1,789,851 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 1,681,788 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 1,574,244 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 1,467,383 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 1,377,911 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 1,305,996 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 1,235,305 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 1,166,370 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 1,099,855 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 1,015,700 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 912,010 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 809,274 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 710,209 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 615,866 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 542,856 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 489,087 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 436,399 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 385,014 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 335,027 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 286,536 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 239,660 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 199,416 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 179,700 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 173,976 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 167,103 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 159,692 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 152,211 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 144,946 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 137,989 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 131,334 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
Fertility rates in South Africa and United Arab Emirates
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2023 | 2.22 | 1.2 |
| 2022 | 2.23 | 1.15 |
| 2021 | 2.25 | 1.16 |
| 2020 | 2.26 | 1.29 |
| 2019 | 2.26 | 1.25 |
| 2018 | 2.27 | 1.29 |
| 2017 | 2.28 | 1.35 |
| 2016 | 2.26 | 1.37 |
| 2015 | 2.36 | 1.42 |
| 2014 | 2.42 | 1.48 |
| 2013 | 2.43 | 1.53 |
| 2012 | 2.45 | 1.53 |
| 2011 | 2.44 | 1.54 |
| 2010 | 2.44 | 1.57 |
| 2009 | 2.5 | 1.58 |
| 2008 | 2.68 | 1.52 |
| 2007 | 2.55 | 1.79 |
| 2006 | 2.55 | 1.96 |
| 2005 | 2.51 | 2.23 |
| 2004 | 2.44 | 2.38 |
| 2003 | 2.36 | 2.49 |
| 2002 | 2.32 | 2.54 |
| 2001 | 2.37 | 2.62 |
| 2000 | 2.41 | 2.73 |
| 1999 | 2.56 | 2.79 |
| 1998 | 2.63 | 2.77 |
| 1997 | 2.73 | 2.83 |
| 1996 | 2.99 | 3.06 |
| 1995 | 3.17 | 3.28 |
| 1994 | 3.26 | 3.76 |
| 1993 | 3.37 | 3.82 |
| 1992 | 3.48 | 4.09 |
| 1991 | 3.62 | 4.25 |
| 1990 | 3.72 | 4.51 |
| 1989 | 3.98 | 4.65 |
| 1988 | 4.18 | 4.77 |
| 1987 | 4.35 | 4.88 |
| 1986 | 4.41 | 5 |
| 1985 | 4.5 | 5.13 |
| 1984 | 4.57 | 5.3 |
| 1983 | 4.63 | 5.48 |
| 1982 | 4.7 | 5.66 |
| 1981 | 4.71 | 5.81 |
| 1980 | 4.78 | 5.95 |
| 1979 | 4.82 | 6.06 |
| 1978 | 4.85 | 6.15 |
| 1977 | 4.94 | 6.22 |
| 1976 | 5.07 | 6.29 |
| 1975 | 5.19 | 6.35 |
| 1974 | 5.3 | 6.41 |
| 1973 | 5.41 | 6.46 |
| 1972 | 5.49 | 6.5 |
| 1971 | 5.57 | 6.52 |
| 1970 | 5.63 | 6.52 |
| 1969 | 5.72 | 6.52 |
| 1968 | 5.78 | 6.53 |
| 1967 | 5.85 | 6.51 |
| 1966 | 5.91 | 6.5 |
| 1965 | 5.89 | 6.5 |
| 1964 | 5.96 | 6.49 |
| 1963 | 6.01 | 6.5 |
| 1962 | 6.05 | 6.49 |
| 1961 | 6.08 | 6.49 |
| 1960 | 6.11 | 6.5 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
South Africa and United Arab Emirates demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
| 2024 | 29.5 | 32.6 |
| 2023 | 29.2 | 32.2 |
| 2022 | 28.9 | 31.9 |
| 2021 | 28.6 | 31.9 |
| 2020 | 28.3 | 31.8 |
| 2019 | 27.9 | 31.8 |
| 2018 | 27.5 | 31.8 |
| 2017 | 27 | 31.8 |
| 2016 | 26.7 | 31.8 |
| 2015 | 26.4 | 31.8 |
| 2014 | 26 | 31.8 |
| 2013 | 25.7 | 31.7 |
| 2012 | 25.3 | 31.7 |
| 2011 | 25 | 31.7 |
| 2010 | 24.6 | 31.7 |
| 2009 | 24.3 | 31.6 |
| 2008 | 24 | 31.6 |
| 2007 | 23.8 | 31.6 |
| 2006 | 23.5 | 31.4 |
| 2005 | 23.3 | 30.9 |
| 2004 | 23.1 | 30.3 |
| 2003 | 22.8 | 29.6 |
| 2002 | 22.4 | 29.1 |
| 2001 | 22.2 | 28.6 |
| 2000 | 21.9 | 28.2 |
| 1999 | 21.6 | 28 |
| 1998 | 21.4 | 27.9 |
| 1997 | 21.2 | 27.9 |
| 1996 | 21.2 | 28.1 |
| 1995 | 21.5 | 28 |
| 1994 | 22 | 27.4 |
| 1993 | 21.9 | 26.8 |
| 1992 | 21.5 | 26.4 |
| 1991 | 21.5 | 26 |
| 1990 | 21.3 | 25.8 |
| 1989 | 21.1 | 25.8 |
| 1988 | 20.9 | 25.9 |
| 1987 | 20.7 | 26.1 |
| 1986 | 20.5 | 26.5 |
| 1985 | 20.4 | 26.6 |
| 1984 | 20.2 | 26.4 |
| 1983 | 20 | 26.4 |
| 1982 | 19.8 | 26.4 |
| 1981 | 19.6 | 26.4 |
| 1980 | 19.4 | 26.2 |
| 1979 | 19.3 | 25.8 |
| 1978 | 19.2 | 25.5 |
| 1977 | 19.1 | 25.4 |
| 1976 | 19 | 25.6 |
| 1975 | 18.9 | 25.4 |
| 1974 | 18.9 | 24.7 |
| 1973 | 18.8 | 24.1 |
| 1972 | 18.8 | 23.6 |
| 1971 | 18.8 | 23.2 |
| 1970 | 18.8 | 23 |
| 1969 | 18.8 | 23.1 |
| 1968 | 18.8 | 23.5 |
| 1967 | 18.8 | 23.3 |
| 1966 | 18.8 | 22.6 |
| 1965 | 18.8 | 22 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 21.5 |
| 1963 | 18.9 | 21 |
| 1962 | 18.9 | 20.6 |
| 1961 | 19 | 20.1 |
| 1960 | 19 | 19.6 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$391B
2024 |
$566B
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
33%
2024 |
21.4%
2024 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.02%
2024 |
3.89%
2021 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.7%
2024 |
5.64%
2014 |
| Armed forces personnel |
89,000
2020 |
63,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-5.79%
2024 |
+6.41%
2024 |
| Unemployment rate |
32.3%
2024 |
1.88%
2024 |
| Services, % of GDP |
63%
2024 |
54.9%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
24.3%
2024 |
44.3%
2024 |
| Economic freedom index |
58.6
2026 |
71.9
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
50.5%
2014 |
20.5%
2018 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
0.9%
2014 |
2.8%
2018 |
| Number of millionaires |
90,595
2025 |
339,000
2025 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
0.22%
2025 |
3.89%
2025 |
| Number of billionaires |
7
2025 |
6
2025 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.00002%
2025 |
0.00007%
2025 |
| Listed domestic companies |
220
2024 |
154
2024 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$986B
2024 |
$1.05T
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$65.4B
2024 |
$238B
2024 |
| Personal remittances received |
$855M
2024 |
$1.8B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals |
3,886,600
2020 |
8,084,000
2020 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
2.89%
2020 |
n/a |
| Banked people share |
81.1%
2024 |
85.7%
2021 |
Energy
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,939 kg
2023 |
8,336 kg
2022 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$7.84
2023 |
$9.01
2022 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
440 megatons
2024 |
200.6 megatons
2024 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
6.88 tons
2024 |
18.3 tons
2024 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
93.3%
2022 |
92.7%
2022 |
| Renewable energy use share |
9.7%
2021 |
1%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
3.58%
2023 |
7.24%
2022 |
| Net energy imports use share |
-12.5%
2023 |
-171.5%
2022 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
3,247 kWh
2023 |
14,688 kWh
2022 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.45%
2021 |
4.2%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
2.91%
2023 |
0%
2021 |
| Nuclear share |
3.73%
2023 |
13.3%
2022 |
| Electricity access |
87.7%
2023 |
100%
2023 |
Society
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.79%
2024 |
0.14%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
+146,370
2025 |
+158,634
2025 |
| Urban population |
63.7%
2024 |
85.8%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.7:51.3
2024 |
63.9:36.1
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.56 ft
2025 |
5.71 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2025 |
5.27 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
42.1
2026 |
84
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
41
2025 |
69
2025 |
| Higher education index |
81
2026 |
66
2026 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
45.5
2022 |
0.75
2022 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
22.2
2019 |
8.9
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
109
2025 |
181
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
91.2%
2024 |
98.8%
2024 |
| English speaking |
31%
2023 |
65%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
75.7%
2023 |
100%
2024 |
Health
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$537
2023 |
$2,402
2023 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$35.9
2023 |
$232.1
2023 |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
2.06%
2023 |
0%
2023 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.79
2022 |
2.99
2023 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
118
2023 |
3
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
34.7
2023 |
5
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
31.4%
2022 |
32.6%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
7.2%
2024 |
20.7%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
39
2026 |
11
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
20.7%
2022 |
9%
2022 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.13 liters
2020 |
2.08 liters
2020 |
Territory
|
South Africa
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.81%
2026 |
0.05%
2026 |
| Land area per capita |
7,318 sq mi
2024 |
2,496 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
371,975 sq mi
2026 |
1,512 sq mi
2026 |
| Forest area |
65,409 sq mi
2026 |
1,225 sq mi
2026 |
| Roads length |
466,028 mi
2016 |
2,535 mi
2008 |
In-depth comparisons
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- 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.