South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 342M in The United States (ranked 3/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 3,531,839 sq mi for The United States (ranked 24th vs. 3rd).
By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and The United States ranks 1/197 ($28.8T). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while The United States ranks 10/197 ($84,534).
Main facts and rankings
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
65683993
|
344023146
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 3/197 |
| GDP |
$401B
2024 |
$28.8T
2024 |
| GDP rank | 40/197 | 1/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$6,267
2024 |
$84,534
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 111/197 | 10/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$15,456
2024 |
$85,810
2024 |
| Government debt |
$305B
2024 |
$35.2T
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
76%
2024 |
122.3%
2024 |
| Government debt per person |
$4,761
2024 |
$103,404
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | 83/185 | 2/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$15,431
2026 |
$53,202
2026 |
| Land area | 468,377 sq mi | 3,531,839 sq mi |
| Population density |
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026 |
97.3 ppl/mi²
2026 |
| Fertility rate |
2.22
2023 |
1.62
2023 |
| Median age |
29.5 years
2024 |
39.3 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
79.8 years
2026 |
South Africa and United States: Comparison Charts
South Africa and United States economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2024 | $401,144,998,374 | $28,750,956,130,731 |
| 2023 | $381,440,724,491 | $27,292,170,793,214 |
| 2022 | $407,596,043,068 | $25,604,848,907,611 |
| 2021 | $419,986,284,375 | $23,315,080,560,000 |
| 2020 | $337,974,655,408 | $21,060,473,613,000 |
| 2019 | $389,330,032,224 | $21,380,976,119,000 |
| 2018 | $405,260,723,893 | $20,533,057,312,000 |
| 2017 | $381,448,814,653 | $19,477,336,549,000 |
| 2016 | $323,585,509,674 | $18,695,110,842,000 |
| 2015 | $346,709,790,459 | $18,206,020,741,000 |
| 2014 | $381,198,869,776 | $17,550,680,174,000 |
| 2013 | $400,886,013,596 | $16,843,190,993,000 |
| 2012 | $434,400,545,086 | $16,253,972,230,000 |
| 2011 | $458,199,494,831 | $15,599,728,123,000 |
| 2010 | $417,363,822,802 | $15,048,964,444,000 |
| 2009 | $329,754,060,647 | $14,478,064,934,000 |
| 2008 | $316,131,258,616 | $14,769,857,911,000 |
| 2007 | $333,077,117,254 | $14,474,226,905,000 |
| 2006 | $303,858,675,364 | $13,815,586,948,000 |
| 2005 | $288,867,217,197 | $13,039,199,193,000 |
| 2004 | $255,806,908,595 | $12,217,193,198,000 |
| 2003 | $197,018,965,309 | $11,456,442,041,000 |
| 2002 | $129,087,556,612 | $10,929,112,955,000 |
| 2001 | $135,429,905,923 | $10,581,929,774,000 |
| 2000 | $151,752,757,215 | $10,250,947,997,000 |
| 1999 | $151,516,957,079 | $9,631,174,489,000 |
| 1998 | $152,982,984,557 | $9,062,818,202,000 |
| 1997 | $168,978,057,328 | $8,577,554,457,000 |
| 1996 | $163,234,925,381 | $8,073,122,000,000 |
| 1995 | $171,735,933,897 | $7,639,749,000,000 |
| 1994 | $153,512,712,382 | $7,287,236,000,000 |
| 1993 | $147,194,747,566 | $6,858,559,000,000 |
| 1992 | $146,956,150,987 | $6,520,327,000,000 |
| 1991 | $135,203,698,238 | $6,158,129,000,000 |
| 1990 | $126,048,140,142 | $5,963,144,000,000 |
| 1989 | $108,055,624,082 | $5,641,580,000,000 |
| 1988 | $103,976,831,871 | $5,236,438,000,000 |
| 1987 | $96,535,763,418 | $4,855,215,000,000 |
| 1986 | $73,354,771,399 | $4,579,631,000,000 |
| 1985 | $64,459,376,087 | $4,338,979,000,000 |
| 1984 | $84,870,163,366 | $4,037,613,000,000 |
| 1983 | $96,204,110,942 | $3,634,038,000,000 |
| 1982 | $85,904,057,409 | $3,343,789,000,000 |
| 1981 | $93,141,472,164 | $3,207,041,000,000 |
| 1980 | $89,411,864,402 | $2,857,307,000,000 |
| 1979 | $63,038,658,089 | $2,627,333,000,000 |
| 1978 | $51,607,412,902 | $2,351,599,000,000 |
| 1977 | $45,328,411,332 | $2,081,826,000,000 |
| 1976 | $41,150,460,288 | $1,873,412,000,000 |
| 1975 | $42,906,905,672 | $1,684,904,000,000 |
| 1974 | $41,389,186,095 | $1,545,243,000,000 |
| 1973 | $33,262,772,008 | $1,425,376,000,000 |
| 1972 | $24,515,919,217 | $1,279,110,000,000 |
| 1971 | $23,411,076,638 | $1,164,850,000,000 |
| 1970 | $21,218,391,513 | $1,073,303,000,000 |
| 1969 | $19,256,992,297 | $1,017,438,172,414 |
| 1968 | $17,124,793,150 | $940,225,000,000 |
| 1967 | $15,821,393,671 | $859,620,034,483 |
| 1966 | $14,211,394,315 | $813,032,758,621 |
| 1965 | $13,068,994,772 | $741,904,862,069 |
| 1964 | $11,955,995,218 | $684,144,620,690 |
| 1963 | $10,854,195,658 | $637,058,551,724 |
| 1962 | $9,813,996,074 | $603,639,413,793 |
| 1961 | $9,225,996,310 | $561,940,310,345 |
| 1960 | $8,748,596,501 | $541,988,586,207 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY 
South Africa and United States economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2024 | $6,267 | $84,534 |
| 2023 | $6,034 | $81,490 |
| 2022 | $6,534 | $76,829 |
| 2021 | $6,829 | $70,249 |
| 2020 | $5,581 | $63,526 |
| 2019 | $6,534 | $65,120 |
| 2018 | $6,914 | $62,823 |
| 2017 | $6,618 | $59,908 |
| 2016 | $5,651 | $57,867 |
| 2015 | $6,112 | $56,763 |
| 2014 | $6,857 | $55,124 |
| 2013 | $7,332 | $53,291 |
| 2012 | $8,077 | $51,784 |
| 2011 | $8,646 | $50,066 |
| 2010 | $7,973 | $48,651 |
| 2009 | $6,375 | $47,195 |
| 2008 | $6,185 | $48,570 |
| 2007 | $6,592 | $48,050 |
| 2006 | $6,077 | $46,302 |
| 2005 | $5,837 | $44,123 |
| 2004 | $5,221 | $41,725 |
| 2003 | $4,062 | $39,490 |
| 2002 | $2,688 | $37,998 |
| 2001 | $2,847 | $37,134 |
| 2000 | $3,218 | $36,330 |
| 1999 | $3,242 | $34,484 |
| 1998 | $3,310 | $32,823 |
| 1997 | $3,700 | $31,430 |
| 1996 | $3,618 | $29,937 |
| 1995 | $3,856 | $28,661 |
| 1994 | $3,489 | $27,662 |
| 1993 | $3,400 | $26,353 |
| 1992 | $3,462 | $25,381 |
| 1991 | $3,243 | $24,293 |
| 1990 | $3,093 | $23,840 |
| 1989 | $2,727 | $22,857 |
| 1988 | $2,702 | $21,417 |
| 1987 | $2,586 | $20,039 |
| 1986 | $2,027 | $19,071 |
| 1985 | $1,839 | $18,237 |
| 1984 | $2,504 | $17,121 |
| 1983 | $2,938 | $15,544 |
| 1982 | $2,717 | $14,434 |
| 1981 | $3,050 | $13,976 |
| 1980 | $3,029 | $12,613 |
| 1979 | $2,202 | $11,674 |
| 1978 | $1,852 | $10,565 |
| 1977 | $1,671 | $9,453 |
| 1976 | $1,559 | $8,592 |
| 1975 | $1,670 | $7,801 |
| 1974 | $1,656 | $7,226 |
| 1973 | $1,369 | $6,726 |
| 1972 | $1,038 | $6,094 |
| 1971 | $1,020 | $5,609 |
| 1970 | $952 | $5,234 |
| 1969 | $891 | $5,020 |
| 1968 | $817 | $4,685 |
| 1967 | $779 | $4,326 |
| 1966 | $722 | $4,136 |
| 1965 | $685 | $3,818 |
| 1964 | $646 | $3,565 |
| 1963 | $605 | $3,366 |
| 1962 | $563 | $3,236 |
| 1961 | $546 | $3,059 |
| 1960 | $532 | $3,000 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY
South Africa vs. United States life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2026 | 66.7 | 79.8 |
| 2025 | 66.5 | 79.6 |
| 2024 | 66.3 | 79.5 |
| 2023 | 66.1 | 79.3 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 78 |
| 2021 | 62 | 76.4 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 77 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 78.9 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 78.8 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 78.6 |
| 2016 | 64.7 | 78.7 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 78.7 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 78.9 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 78.8 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 78.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 78.7 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 78.7 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 78.5 |
| 2008 | 56 | 78.1 |
| 2007 | 54.9 | 78 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 77.8 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 77.5 |
| 2004 | 54 | 77.5 |
| 2003 | 54.2 | 77.1 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 77 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 76.9 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 76.8 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 76.7 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 76.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 76.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 76.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 75.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 75.7 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 75.6 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 75.8 |
| 1991 | 63 | 75.5 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 75.4 |
| 1989 | 63 | 75.1 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 74.8 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 74.9 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 74.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 74.7 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 74.7 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 74.6 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 74.5 |
| 1981 | 60.4 | 74.1 |
| 1980 | 60 | 73.7 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 73.8 |
| 1978 | 59 | 73.4 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 73.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 72.8 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 72.5 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 72 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 71.4 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 71.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 71.1 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 70.7 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 70.5 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 70.2 |
| 1967 | 55 | 70.5 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 70.2 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 70.2 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 70.2 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 69.9 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 70.1 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 70.3 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 69.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 69.9 |
| 1958 | 51.1 | 69.7 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 69.4 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 69.6 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 69.6 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 69.5 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 68.7 |
| 1952 | 45 | 68.4 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 68.2 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 68.1 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY
South Africa and United States population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2025 | - | 341,784,857 |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | 340,110,988 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | 334,914,895 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | 333,271,411 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | 331,893,745 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 331,526,933 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 328,329,953 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | 326,838,199 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 325,122,128 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | 323,071,755 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 320,738,994 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 318,386,329 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 316,059,947 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 313,877,662 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 311,583,481 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 309,327,143 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 306,771,529 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 304,093,966 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 301,231,207 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 298,379,912 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 295,516,599 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 292,805,298 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 290,107,933 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 287,625,193 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 284,968,955 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 282,162,411 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | 279,294,713 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | 276,115,288 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | 272,911,760 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | 269,667,391 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | 266,557,091 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | 263,435,673 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | 260,255,352 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | 256,894,189 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | 253,492,503 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 250,131,894 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | 246,819,222 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | 244,499,004 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | 242,288,936 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | 240,132,831 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | 237,923,734 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | 235,824,908 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | 233,792,014 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | 231,664,432 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | 229,465,744 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 226,542,250 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | 225,055,487 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | 222,584,545 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | 220,239,425 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | 218,035,164 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | 215,973,199 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | 213,853,928 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | 211,908,788 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | 209,896,021 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | 207,660,677 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 205,052,174 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | 202,676,946 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | 200,706,052 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | 198,712,056 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | 196,560,338 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | 194,302,963 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | 191,888,791 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | 189,241,798 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | 186,537,737 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | 183,691,481 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | 180,671,158 |
| 1959 | - | 177,829,628 |
| 1958 | - | 174,881,904 |
| 1957 | - | 171,984,130 |
| 1956 | - | 168,903,031 |
| 1955 | - | 165,931,202 |
| 1954 | - | 163,025,854 |
| 1953 | - | 160,184,192 |
| 1952 | - | 157,552,740 |
| 1951 | - | 154,877,889 |
| 1950 | - | 152,271,417 |
| 1949 | - | 149,188,130 |
| 1948 | - | 146,631,302 |
| 1947 | - | 144,126,071 |
| 1946 | - | 141,388,566 |
| 1945 | - | 139,928,165 |
| 1944 | - | 138,397,345 |
| 1943 | - | 136,739,353 |
| 1942 | - | 134,859,553 |
| 1941 | - | 133,402,471 |
| 1940 | - | 132,122,446 |
| 1939 | - | 130,879,718 |
| 1938 | - | 129,824,939 |
| 1937 | - | 128,824,829 |
| 1936 | - | 128,053,180 |
| 1935 | - | 127,250,232 |
| 1934 | - | 126,373,773 |
| 1933 | - | 125,578,763 |
| 1932 | - | 124,840,471 |
| 1931 | - | 124,039,648 |
| 1930 | - | 123,076,741 |
| 1929 | - | 121,767,000 |
| 1928 | - | 120,509,000 |
| 1927 | - | 119,035,000 |
| 1926 | - | 117,397,000 |
| 1925 | - | 115,829,000 |
| 1924 | - | 114,109,000 |
| 1923 | - | 111,947,000 |
| 1922 | - | 110,049,000 |
| 1921 | - | 108,538,000 |
| 1920 | - | 106,461,000 |
| 1919 | - | 104,514,000 |
| 1918 | - | 103,208,000 |
| 1917 | - | 103,268,000 |
| 1916 | - | 101,961,000 |
| 1915 | - | 100,546,000 |
| 1914 | - | 99,111,000 |
| 1913 | - | 97,225,000 |
| 1912 | - | 95,335,000 |
| 1911 | - | 93,863,000 |
| 1910 | - | 92,407,000 |
| 1909 | - | 90,490,000 |
| 1908 | - | 88,710,000 |
| 1907 | - | 87,008,000 |
| 1906 | - | 85,450,000 |
| 1905 | - | 83,822,000 |
| 1904 | - | 82,166,000 |
| 1903 | - | 80,632,000 |
| 1902 | - | 79,163,000 |
| 1901 | - | 77,584,000 |
| 1900 | - | 76,094,000 |
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau (1900–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY
Fertility rates in South Africa and United States
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2023 | 2.22 | 1.62 |
| 2022 | 2.23 | 1.66 |
| 2021 | 2.25 | 1.66 |
| 2020 | 2.26 | 1.64 |
| 2019 | 2.26 | 1.71 |
| 2018 | 2.27 | 1.73 |
| 2017 | 2.28 | 1.77 |
| 2016 | 2.26 | 1.82 |
| 2015 | 2.36 | 1.84 |
| 2014 | 2.42 | 1.86 |
| 2013 | 2.43 | 1.86 |
| 2012 | 2.45 | 1.88 |
| 2011 | 2.44 | 1.89 |
| 2010 | 2.44 | 1.93 |
| 2009 | 2.5 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2.68 | 2.07 |
| 2007 | 2.55 | 2.12 |
| 2006 | 2.55 | 2.11 |
| 2005 | 2.51 | 2.06 |
| 2004 | 2.44 | 2.05 |
| 2003 | 2.36 | 2.05 |
| 2002 | 2.32 | 2.02 |
| 2001 | 2.37 | 2.03 |
| 2000 | 2.41 | 2.06 |
| 1999 | 2.56 | 2.01 |
| 1998 | 2.63 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2.73 | 1.97 |
| 1996 | 2.99 | 1.98 |
| 1995 | 3.17 | 1.98 |
| 1994 | 3.26 | 2 |
| 1993 | 3.37 | 2.02 |
| 1992 | 3.48 | 2.05 |
| 1991 | 3.62 | 2.06 |
| 1990 | 3.72 | 2.08 |
| 1989 | 3.98 | 2.01 |
| 1988 | 4.18 | 1.93 |
| 1987 | 4.35 | 1.87 |
| 1986 | 4.41 | 1.84 |
| 1985 | 4.5 | 1.84 |
| 1984 | 4.57 | 1.81 |
| 1983 | 4.63 | 1.8 |
| 1982 | 4.7 | 1.83 |
| 1981 | 4.71 | 1.81 |
| 1980 | 4.78 | 1.84 |
| 1979 | 4.82 | 1.81 |
| 1978 | 4.85 | 1.76 |
| 1977 | 4.94 | 1.79 |
| 1976 | 5.07 | 1.74 |
| 1975 | 5.19 | 1.77 |
| 1974 | 5.3 | 1.84 |
| 1973 | 5.41 | 1.88 |
| 1972 | 5.49 | 2.01 |
| 1971 | 5.57 | 2.27 |
| 1970 | 5.63 | 2.48 |
| 1969 | 5.72 | 2.46 |
| 1968 | 5.78 | 2.46 |
| 1967 | 5.85 | 2.56 |
| 1966 | 5.91 | 2.72 |
| 1965 | 5.89 | 2.91 |
| 1964 | 5.96 | 3.19 |
| 1963 | 6.01 | 3.32 |
| 1962 | 6.05 | 3.46 |
| 1961 | 6.08 | 3.62 |
| 1960 | 6.11 | 3.65 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY
South Africa and United States demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
| 2024 | 29.5 | 39.3 |
| 2023 | 29.2 | 39 |
| 2022 | 28.9 | 38.7 |
| 2021 | 28.6 | 38.5 |
| 2020 | 28.3 | 38.2 |
| 2019 | 27.9 | 38 |
| 2018 | 27.5 | 37.9 |
| 2017 | 27 | 37.7 |
| 2016 | 26.7 | 37.6 |
| 2015 | 26.4 | 37.5 |
| 2014 | 26 | 37.3 |
| 2013 | 25.7 | 37.2 |
| 2012 | 25.3 | 37.1 |
| 2011 | 25 | 37 |
| 2010 | 24.6 | 36.9 |
| 2009 | 24.3 | 36.7 |
| 2008 | 24 | 36.6 |
| 2007 | 23.8 | 36.5 |
| 2006 | 23.5 | 36.4 |
| 2005 | 23.3 | 36.2 |
| 2004 | 23.1 | 36 |
| 2003 | 22.8 | 35.8 |
| 2002 | 22.4 | 35.6 |
| 2001 | 22.2 | 35.5 |
| 2000 | 21.9 | 35.3 |
| 1999 | 21.6 | 35.1 |
| 1998 | 21.4 | 34.9 |
| 1997 | 21.2 | 34.6 |
| 1996 | 21.2 | 34.4 |
| 1995 | 21.5 | 34.1 |
| 1994 | 22 | 33.8 |
| 1993 | 21.9 | 33.6 |
| 1992 | 21.5 | 33.4 |
| 1991 | 21.5 | 33.2 |
| 1990 | 21.3 | 32.9 |
| 1989 | 21.1 | 32.7 |
| 1988 | 20.9 | 32.4 |
| 1987 | 20.7 | 32.1 |
| 1986 | 20.5 | 31.8 |
| 1985 | 20.4 | 31.5 |
| 1984 | 20.2 | 31.2 |
| 1983 | 20 | 30.9 |
| 1982 | 19.8 | 30.7 |
| 1981 | 19.6 | 30.4 |
| 1980 | 19.4 | 30.1 |
| 1979 | 19.3 | 29.9 |
| 1978 | 19.2 | 29.6 |
| 1977 | 19.1 | 29.2 |
| 1976 | 19 | 28.9 |
| 1975 | 18.9 | 28.7 |
| 1974 | 18.9 | 28.5 |
| 1973 | 18.8 | 28.3 |
| 1972 | 18.8 | 28 |
| 1971 | 18.8 | 27.9 |
| 1970 | 18.8 | 27.8 |
| 1969 | 18.8 | 27.9 |
| 1968 | 18.8 | 27.9 |
| 1967 | 18.8 | 27.9 |
| 1966 | 18.8 | 27.9 |
| 1965 | 18.8 | 28.1 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 28.2 |
| 1963 | 18.9 | 28.5 |
| 1962 | 18.9 | 28.7 |
| 1961 | 19 | 29 |
| 1960 | 19 | 29.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/united-states | CC BY
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National statistics comparison
Finance
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$391B
2024 |
$28.4T
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
33%
2024 |
37.9%
2024 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.02%
2024 |
5.42%
2021 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.7%
2024 |
3.42%
2024 |
| Armed forces personnel |
89,000
2020 |
1,395,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-5.79%
2024 |
-8.03%
2024 |
| Unemployment rate |
32.3%
2024 |
4.02%
2024 |
| Services, % of GDP |
63%
2024 |
79.7%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
24.3%
2024 |
17.3%
2024 |
| Economic freedom index |
58.6
2026 |
72.8
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
50.5%
2014 |
30.4%
2023 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
0.9%
2014 |
1.8%
2023 |
| Number of millionaires |
90,595
2025 |
23,831,000
2025 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
0.22%
2025 |
9.21%
2025 |
| Number of billionaires |
7
2025 |
902
2025 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.00002%
2025 |
0.0003%
2025 |
| Listed domestic companies |
220
2024 |
4,010
2024 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$986B
2024 |
$62.2T
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$65.4B
2024 |
$910B
2024 |
| Personal remittances received |
$855M
2024 |
$8.71B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals |
3,886,600
2020 |
45,037,000
2020 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
2.89%
2020 |
3.88%
2020 |
| Banked people share |
81.1%
2024 |
97%
2024 |
Energy
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,939 kg
2023 |
6,364 kg
2023 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$7.84
2023 |
$12.9
2023 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
440 megatons
2024 |
4,632 megatons
2024 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
6.88 tons
2024 |
13.6 tons
2024 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
93.3%
2022 |
81.6%
2023 |
| Renewable energy use share |
9.7%
2021 |
10.9%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
3.58%
2023 |
14%
2023 |
| Net energy imports use share |
-12.5%
2023 |
-9%
2023 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
3,247 kWh
2023 |
12,551 kWh
2023 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.45%
2021 |
20.3%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
2.91%
2023 |
6.04%
2023 |
| Nuclear share |
3.73%
2023 |
18.1%
2023 |
| Electricity access |
87.7%
2023 |
100%
2023 |
Society
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.79%
2024 |
4.21%
2025 |
| Annual migration change |
+146,370
2025 |
+1,230,663
2025 |
| Urban population |
63.7%
2024 |
80.1%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.7:51.3
2024 |
50.2:49.8
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.56 ft
2025 |
5.8 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2025 |
5.36 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
42.1
2026 |
87.9
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
41
2025 |
64
2025 |
| Higher education index |
81
2026 |
100
2026 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
45.5
2022 |
5.76
2023 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
22.2
2019 |
12.7
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
109
2025 |
166
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
91.2%
2024 |
99%
2003 |
| English speaking |
31%
2023 |
95.3%
2023 |
| People using the Internet |
75.7%
2023 |
93.1%
2023 |
Health
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$537
2023 |
$13,473
2023 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$35.9
2023 |
$1,472
2023 |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
79.8 years
2026 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
2.06%
2023 |
0%
2023 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.79
2022 |
3.68
2022 |
| Age at first childbirth | n/a |
27.3 years
2021 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
118
2023 |
17
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
34.7
2023 |
6.5
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
31.4%
2022 |
42.7%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
7.2%
2024 |
13.7%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
39
2026 |
84
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
20.7%
2022 |
24.3%
2022 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.13 liters
2020 |
9.9 liters
2020 |
Territory
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.81%
2026 |
6.14%
2026 |
| Land area per capita |
7,318 sq mi
2024 |
10,334 sq mi
2025 |
| Agricultural land area |
371,975 sq mi
2026 |
1,627,576 sq mi
2026 |
| Forest area |
65,409 sq mi
2026 |
1,196,125 sq mi
2026 |
| Roads length |
466,028 mi
2016 |
4,092,730 mi
2024 |
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 (1900–2025, 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)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)
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