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South Africa vs Vietnam statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 101M in Vietnam (ranked 16/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 121,016 sq mi for Vietnam (ranked 24th vs. 67th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Vietnam ranks 33/197 ($476B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Vietnam ranks 122/197 ($4,717).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Vietnam
Population
65683993
102365351
Population rank 24/197 16/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$476B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 33/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$4,717
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 122/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$16,386
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$149B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
31.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$1,475
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 132/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$4,020
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 121,016 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
845 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
1.91
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
33.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
75 years
2026

South Africa and Vietnam: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Vietnam economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Vietnam
2024 $401,144,998,374 $476,388,230,307
2023 $381,440,724,491 $433,857,681,378
2022 $407,596,043,068 $413,445,230,669
2021 $419,986,284,375 $366,474,752,771
2020 $337,974,655,408 $346,615,738,538
2019 $389,330,032,224 $334,365,270,497
2018 $405,260,723,893 $310,106,478,395
2017 $381,448,814,653 $281,353,605,987
2016 $323,585,509,674 $257,096,001,178
2015 $346,709,790,459 $239,258,328,382
2014 $381,198,869,776 $233,451,469,643
2013 $400,886,013,596 $213,708,811,665
2012 $434,400,545,086 $195,590,661,129
2011 $458,199,494,831 $172,595,049,184
2010 $417,363,822,802 $147,201,173,197
2009 $329,754,060,647 $106,014,659,565
2008 $316,131,258,616 $99,130,304,099
2007 $333,077,117,254 $77,414,425,532
2006 $303,858,675,364 $66,371,664,817
2005 $288,867,217,197 $57,633,255,738
2004 $255,806,908,595 $45,427,854,693
2003 $197,018,965,309 $39,552,513,232
2002 $129,087,556,612 $35,064,105,501
2001 $135,429,905,923 $32,685,198,809
2000 $151,752,757,215 $31,172,518,403
1999 $151,516,957,079 $28,683,659,007
1998 $152,982,984,557 $27,209,602,050
1997 $168,978,057,328 $26,843,700,442
1996 $163,234,925,381 $24,657,470,575
1995 $171,735,933,897 $20,736,164,459
1994 $153,512,712,382 $16,286,433,533
1993 $147,194,747,566 $13,180,953,598
1992 $146,956,150,987 $9,866,990,236
1991 $135,203,698,238 $9,613,369,520
1990 $126,048,140,142 $6,471,740,806
1989 $108,055,624,082 $6,293,304,975
1988 $103,976,831,871 $25,423,812,649
1987 $96,535,763,418 $36,658,108,850
1986 $73,354,771,399 $26,336,616,250
1985 $64,459,376,087 $14,094,687,821
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/vietnam | CC BY

South Africa and Vietnam economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Vietnam
2024 $6,267 $4,717
2023 $6,034 $4,323
2022 $6,534 $4,148
2021 $6,829 $3,704
2020 $5,581 $3,534
2019 $6,534 $3,441
2018 $6,914 $3,222
2017 $6,618 $2,956
2016 $5,651 $2,735
2015 $6,112 $2,578
2014 $6,857 $2,546
2013 $7,332 $2,360
2012 $8,077 $2,185
2011 $8,646 $1,951
2010 $7,973 $1,683
2009 $6,375 $1,226
2008 $6,185 $1,164
2007 $6,592 $926
2006 $6,077 $808
2005 $5,837 $711
2004 $5,221 $565
2003 $4,062 $497
2002 $2,688 $445
2001 $2,847 $419
2000 $3,218 $404
1999 $3,242 $376
1998 $3,310 $361
1997 $3,700 $362
1996 $3,618 $337
1995 $3,856 $287.8
1994 $3,489 $229.9
1993 $3,400 $189.4
1992 $3,462 $144.5
1991 $3,243 $143.7
1990 $3,093 $98.8
1989 $2,727 $98.1
1988 $2,702 $405
1987 $2,586 $595
1986 $2,027 $436
1985 $1,839 $238.6
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/vietnam | CC BY

South Africa vs. Vietnam life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Vietnam
2026 66.7 75
2025 66.5 74.9
2024 66.3 74.7
2023 66.1 74.6
2022 65.5 74.5
2021 62 74.1
2020 65.2 75.4
2019 66.1 74.2
2018 65.7 74.1
2017 65.4 74
2016 64.7 74
2015 64.1 74
2014 63.2 73.9
2013 62.4 73.8
2012 61.7 73.8
2011 60.6 73.7
2010 58.9 73.6
2009 57.4 73.5
2008 56 73.5
2007 54.9 73.4
2006 54.2 73.3
2005 53.9 73.2
2004 54 73.1
2003 54.2 73.2
2002 55.6 73.1
2001 57.2 73
2000 58.4 72.7
1999 59.2 72.6
1998 59.9 72.3
1997 60.5 71.7
1996 61.1 71.3
1995 61.6 70.9
1994 62.1 70.4
1993 62.6 70
1992 62.8 69.6
1991 63 69.3
1990 62.9 69
1989 63 68.8
1988 62.9 68.6
1987 62.7 68
1986 62.4 67.6
1985 62.2 67.2
1984 61.8 66.9
1983 61.4 66.5
1982 60.9 66.2
1981 60.4 65.8
1980 60 65.3
1979 59.5 65
1978 59 64.5
1977 58.5 64.1
1976 58 63.7
1975 57.6 61.9
1974 57.1 54.8
1973 56.7 55.7
1972 56.4 51.9
1971 56 55.6
1970 55.7 54.9
1969 55.4 54.8
1968 55.2 52.7
1967 55 56.7
1966 54.7 56.9
1965 54.4 57
1964 54.2 57.5
1963 53.9 56.9
1962 53.6 58.2
1961 53.1 58.5
1960 52.6 58
1959 51.9 57.4
1958 51.1 56.8
1957 50.2 56.2
1956 49.2 55.5
1955 48.2 54.8
1954 47.1 52
1953 46.1 50
1952 45 49.4
1951 44.1 48.7
1950 43.1 48

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

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

South Africa and Vietnam population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year Population
South Africa Vietnam
2024 64,007,187 100,987,686
2023 63,212,384 100,352,192
2022 62,378,410 99,680,655
2021 61,502,603 98,935,098
2020 60,562,381 98,079,191
2019 59,587,885 97,173,776
2018 58,613,001 96,237,319
2017 57,635,162 95,176,977
2016 57,259,551 94,000,117
2015 56,723,537 92,823,254
2014 55,594,838 91,679,578
2013 54,678,791 90,573,104
2012 53,782,567 89,510,356
2011 52,995,205 88,468,314
2010 52,344,051 87,455,152
2009 51,728,516 86,460,018
2008 51,114,599 85,175,788
2007 50,528,584 83,633,375
2006 49,998,277 82,167,897
2005 49,490,033 81,088,313
2004 48,991,421 80,338,971
2003 48,500,348 79,563,777
2002 48,019,415 78,772,224
2001 47,566,800 77,969,361
2000 47,159,719 77,154,011
1999 46,730,335 76,287,452
1998 46,223,880 75,299,660
1997 45,666,838 74,226,889
1996 45,123,018 73,156,447
1995 44,541,554 72,049,940
1994 44,004,139 70,854,391
1993 43,297,156 69,586,384
1992 42,443,509 68,260,337
1991 41,687,898 66,891,775
1990 40,746,268 65,504,552
1989 39,628,575 64,147,348
1988 38,480,649 62,843,228
1987 37,326,190 61,584,651
1986 36,180,515 60,347,048
1985 35,042,093 59,060,622
1984 33,892,788 57,706,067
1983 32,739,304 56,337,921
1982 31,615,339 55,011,289
1981 30,541,044 53,738,141
1980 29,518,857 52,490,101
1979 28,634,162 51,378,211
1978 27,869,507 50,249,552
1977 27,118,952 48,954,872
1976 26,395,450 47,684,931
1975 25,690,940 46,482,903
1974 24,989,108 45,413,537
1973 24,294,263 44,409,861
1972 23,609,456 43,429,168
1971 22,942,143 42,449,276
1970 22,279,984 41,475,230
1969 21,614,676 40,582,096
1968 20,957,287 39,734,609
1967 20,314,066 38,895,080
1966 19,690,087 38,024,836
1965 19,089,380 37,129,656
1964 18,511,361 36,201,563
1963 17,954,564 35,249,101
1962 17,418,522 34,288,560
1961 16,908,035 33,409,059
1960 16,440,172 32,531,933

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Vietnam

Fertility rate
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Vietnam
2023 2.22 1.91
2022 2.23 1.93
2021 2.25 1.94
2020 2.26 1.96
2019 2.26 1.94
2018 2.27 1.88
2017 2.28 1.99
2016 2.26 2
2015 2.36 2.1
2014 2.42 2.09
2013 2.43 1.98
2012 2.45 1.97
2011 2.44 1.93
2010 2.44 1.91
2009 2.5 1.92
2008 2.68 1.93
2007 2.55 1.91
2006 2.55 1.87
2005 2.51 1.89
2004 2.44 1.97
2003 2.36 2
2002 2.32 2.01
2001 2.37 2.02
2000 2.41 2.03
1999 2.56 2
1998 2.63 2.1
1997 2.73 2.27
1996 2.99 2.47
1995 3.17 2.7
1994 3.26 2.94
1993 3.37 3.17
1992 3.48 3.35
1991 3.62 3.52
1990 3.72 3.6
1989 3.98 3.64
1988 4.18 3.62
1987 4.35 3.72
1986 4.41 3.96
1985 4.5 4.21
1984 4.57 4.41
1983 4.63 4.52
1982 4.7 4.59
1981 4.71 4.67
1980 4.78 4.8
1979 4.82 4.94
1978 4.85 5.1
1977 4.94 5.29
1976 5.07 5.46
1975 5.19 5.62
1974 5.3 5.78
1973 5.41 6.11
1972 5.49 6.1
1971 5.57 6.07
1970 5.63 6.02
1969 5.72 6.01
1968 5.78 6.03
1967 5.85 5.88
1966 5.91 5.97
1965 5.89 6.16
1964 5.96 6.29
1963 6.01 6.39
1962 6.05 6.26
1961 6.08 5.48
1960 6.11 6.27

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

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

South Africa and Vietnam demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Vietnam
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Vietnam
2024 29.5 33.9
2023 29.2 33.4
2022 28.9 33
2021 28.6 32.5
2020 28.3 32.1
2019 27.9 31.6
2018 27.5 31.2
2017 27 30.8
2016 26.7 30.5
2015 26.4 30.2
2014 26 29.8
2013 25.7 29.4
2012 25.3 29
2011 25 28.7
2010 24.6 28.3
2009 24.3 27.9
2008 24 27.4
2007 23.8 26.9
2006 23.5 26.3
2005 23.3 25.8
2004 23.1 25.4
2003 22.8 25
2002 22.4 24.6
2001 22.2 24.2
2000 21.9 23.7
1999 21.6 23.3
1998 21.4 22.9
1997 21.2 22.4
1996 21.2 22
1995 21.5 21.7
1994 22 21.4
1993 21.9 21.1
1992 21.5 20.9
1991 21.5 20.7
1990 21.3 20.5
1989 21.1 20.4
1988 20.9 20.2
1987 20.7 20.1
1986 20.5 20
1985 20.4 19.9
1984 20.2 19.8
1983 20 19.7
1982 19.8 19.6
1981 19.6 19.5
1980 19.4 19.4
1979 19.3 19.3
1978 19.2 19.1
1977 19.1 19
1976 19 18.8
1975 18.9 18.7
1974 18.9 18.6
1973 18.8 18.5
1972 18.8 18.5
1971 18.8 18.4
1970 18.8 18.4
1969 18.8 18.4
1968 18.8 18.4
1967 18.8 18.5
1966 18.8 18.7
1965 18.8 18.9
1964 18.9 19.2
1963 18.9 19.7
1962 18.9 20.2
1961 19 20.7
1960 19 21.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Vietnam
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$454B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
19.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.89%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
1.81%
2018
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
522,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-1.54%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
1.53%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
37.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
64.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
2.6%
2022
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
0.000007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
393
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
$205B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$83.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$16B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
3,837,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
1.11%
2020
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
70.6%
2024

Energy

South Africa Vietnam
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
1,023 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$13.6
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
431 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
4.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
79.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
24.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
11.3%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
34%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
2,624 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
41.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
34.7%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
99.8%
2023

Society

South Africa Vietnam
% of world population
0.79%
2024
1.24%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-48,171
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
38.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49:51
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
48.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
54
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
1.54
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
30.6
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
67
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
96.1%
2022
English speaking
31%
2023
16%
2025
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
84.2%
2024

Health

South Africa Vietnam
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$197.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$77.3
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
75 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
1.15%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
1.11
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
48
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
20
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
2.04%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
3.4%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
22.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
8.04 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Vietnam
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.21%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
1,198 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
47,456 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
57,416 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
354,460 mi
2019

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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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