South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 1K in The Vatican (ranked 197/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 0.17 sq mi for The Vatican (ranked 24th vs. 197th).
By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and The Vatican ranks 197/197 ($19.8M). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while The Vatican ranks 59/197 ($19,800).
Main facts and rankings
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
65683993
|
936
|
| Population rank | 24/197 | 197/197 |
| GDP |
$401B
2024 |
$19.8M
2025 |
| GDP rank | 40/197 | 197/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$6,267
2024 |
$19,800
2025 |
| GDP per capita rank | 111/197 | 59/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$15,456
2024 |
$39,191
2025 |
| Government debt |
$305B
2024 |
n/a |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
76%
2024 |
n/a |
| Government debt per person |
$4,761
2024 |
n/a |
| Government debt per person rank | 83/185 | n/a |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$15,431
2026 |
$18,169
2026 |
| Land area | 468,377 sq mi | 0.17 sq mi |
| Population density |
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026 |
5,493 ppl/mi²
2026 |
| Fertility rate |
2.22
2023 |
n/a |
| Median age |
29.5 years
2024 |
n/a |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
South Africa and Vatican: Comparison Charts
South Africa vs. Vatican life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2026 | 66.7 | 83.4 |
| 2025 | 66.5 | 83.3 |
| 2024 | 66.3 | 83.1 |
| 2023 | 66.1 | 83 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 83.3 |
| 2021 | 62 | 82.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 83 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 83.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 83.3 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 82.7 |
| 2016 | 64.7 | 82.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 82.5 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 82.6 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 82.5 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 82 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 81.7 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 81.5 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 81.3 |
| 2008 | 56 | 81.4 |
| 2007 | 54.9 | 81.3 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 81.2 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 80.6 |
| 2004 | 54 | 80.2 |
| 2003 | 54.2 | 79.8 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 80 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 79.9 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 79.3 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 78.7 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 78.3 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 78.2 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 78.5 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 77.8 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 77.7 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 77 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 77.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 76.9 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 76.9 |
| 1989 | 63 | 76.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 76.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 76.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 75.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 75.5 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 75.1 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 74.7 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 74.8 |
| 1981 | 60.4 | 74.3 |
| 1980 | 60 | 74.1 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 74 |
| 1978 | 59 | 73.7 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 73.3 |
| 1976 | 58 | 72.9 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 72.6 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 72.7 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 71.9 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 72 |
| 1971 | 56 | 71.7 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 71.5 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 70.7 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 70.7 |
| 1967 | 55 | 70.9 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 70.9 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 70.1 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 70.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 69.3 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 69.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 69.8 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 69.2 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 69.2 |
| 1958 | 51.1 | 68.7 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 67.5 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 67.3 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 67.8 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 67.5 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 66.3 |
| 1952 | 45 | 65.7 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 65.3 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 65.9 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/vatican | CC BY 
South Africa and Vatican population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | - |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | - |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | - |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | - |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | - |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | - |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | - |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | 842 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | 839 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | 836 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | 832 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 829 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | 826 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | 824 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | 821 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | 932 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | 921 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | 921 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | 911 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | 900 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | 890 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 880 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | - |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | - |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | - |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | - |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | - |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | - |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | - |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | - |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | - |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | - |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | - |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | - |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | - |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | - |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | - |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | - |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | - |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | - |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | - |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | - |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | - |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | - |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | - |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | - |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | - |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | - |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | - |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | - |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | - |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | - |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | - |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | - |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | - |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | - |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | - |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | - |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | - |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | - |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | - |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/vatican | CC BY
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Africa and the Vatican.
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$391B
2024 |
n/a |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
33%
2024 |
n/a |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.02%
2024 |
n/a |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.7%
2024 |
n/a |
| Armed forces personnel |
89,000
2020 |
n/a |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-5.79%
2024 |
n/a |
| Unemployment rate |
32.3%
2024 |
n/a |
| Services, % of GDP |
63%
2024 |
n/a |
| Industry, % of GDP |
24.3%
2024 |
n/a |
| Economic freedom index |
58.6
2026 |
65
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
50.5%
2014 |
n/a |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
0.9%
2014 |
n/a |
| 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 |
n/a |
| Personal remittances received |
$855M
2024 |
n/a |
| International tourist arrivals |
3,886,600
2020 |
n/a |
| International tourism as share of exports |
2.89%
2020 |
n/a |
| Banked people share |
81.1%
2024 |
n/a |
Energy
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,939 kg
2023 |
n/a |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$7.84
2023 |
n/a |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
440 megatons
2024 |
n/a |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
6.88 tons
2024 |
n/a |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
93.3%
2022 |
n/a |
| Renewable energy use share |
9.7%
2021 |
n/a |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
3.58%
2023 |
n/a |
| Net energy imports use share |
-12.5%
2023 |
n/a |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
3,247 kWh
2023 |
n/a |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.45%
2021 |
n/a |
| Hydroelectric share |
2.91%
2023 |
n/a |
| Nuclear share |
3.73%
2023 |
n/a |
| Electricity access |
87.7%
2023 |
n/a |
Society
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.79%
2024 |
0.00001%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
+146,370
2025 |
n/a |
| Urban population |
63.7%
2024 |
n/a |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.7:51.3
2024 |
n/a |
| Average male height |
5.56 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Quality of life index |
42.1
2026 |
78.4
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
41
2025 |
60
2025 |
| Higher education index |
81
2026 |
34
2026 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
45.5
2022 |
0
2023 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
22.2
2019 |
0.5
2025 |
| Visa free countries |
109
2025 |
149
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
91.2%
2024 |
100%
2013 |
| English speaking |
31%
2023 |
20%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
75.7%
2023 |
n/a |
Health
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$537
2023 |
n/a |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$35.9
2023 |
n/a |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
2.06%
2023 |
n/a |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.79
2022 |
n/a |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
118
2023 |
n/a |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
34.7
2023 |
n/a |
| Obesity rate |
31.4%
2022 |
n/a |
| Diabetes prevalence |
7.2%
2024 |
n/a |
| Air quality index |
39
2026 |
72
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
20.7%
2022 |
n/a |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.13 liters
2020 |
n/a |
Territory
|
South Africa
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.81%
2026 |
0.0000003%
2026 |
| Land area per capita |
7,318 sq mi
2024 |
169.9 sq mi
2019 |
| Agricultural land area |
371,975 sq mi
2026 |
n/a |
| Forest area |
65,409 sq mi
2026 |
n/a |
| Roads length |
466,028 mi
2016 |
5.59 mi
2003 |
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) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
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