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South Africa vs Yemen statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 40.6M in Yemen (ranked 38/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 203,850 sq mi for Yemen (ranked 24th vs. 49th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Yemen ranks 125/197 ($21.6B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Yemen ranks 191/197 ($634).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Yemen
Population
65683993
43325643
Population rank 24/197 37/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank 40/197 125/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank 111/197 191/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$3,164
2013
Government debt
$305B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank 83/185 165/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$1,127
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 203,850 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
210.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
4.59
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
19.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
69.7 years
2026

South Africa and Yemen: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Yemen economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Yemen
2024 $401,144,998,374 -
2023 $381,440,724,491 -
2022 $407,596,043,068 -
2021 $419,986,284,375 -
2020 $337,974,655,408 -
2019 $389,330,032,224 -
2018 $405,260,723,893 $21,606,160,663
2017 $381,448,814,653 $26,842,229,045
2016 $323,585,509,674 $31,317,825,274
2015 $346,709,790,459 $42,444,490,074
2014 $381,198,869,776 $43,228,585,321
2013 $400,886,013,596 $40,415,233,436
2012 $434,400,545,086 $35,401,331,610
2011 $458,199,494,831 $32,726,417,878
2010 $417,363,822,802 $30,906,749,533
2009 $329,754,060,647 $25,130,278,213
2008 $316,131,258,616 $26,910,855,807
2007 $333,077,117,254 $21,650,528,674
2006 $303,858,675,364 $19,063,143,370
2005 $288,867,217,197 $16,731,566,717
2004 $255,806,908,595 $13,867,634,371
2003 $197,018,965,309 $11,777,532,662
2002 $129,087,556,612 $10,693,430,511
2001 $135,429,905,923 $9,852,990,693
2000 $151,752,757,215 $9,679,316,770
1999 $151,516,957,079 $7,639,325,296
1998 $152,982,984,557 $6,322,175,566
1997 $168,978,057,328 $6,838,298,531
1996 $163,234,925,381 $6,496,163,616
1995 $171,735,933,897 $12,796,345,679
1994 $153,512,712,382 $28,019,483,764
1993 $147,194,747,566 $21,736,802,664
1992 $146,956,150,987 $17,959,367,194
1991 $135,203,698,238 $14,665,445,462
1990 $126,048,140,142 $12,643,821,569
1989 $108,055,624,082 -
1988 $103,976,831,871 -
1987 $96,535,763,418 -
1986 $73,354,771,399 -
1985 $64,459,376,087 -
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/yemen | CC BY

South Africa and Yemen economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Yemen
2024 $6,267 -
2023 $6,034 -
2022 $6,534 -
2021 $6,829 -
2020 $5,581 -
2019 $6,534 -
2018 $6,914 $634
2017 $6,618 $811
2016 $5,651 $975
2015 $6,112 $1,362
2014 $6,857 $1,430
2013 $7,332 $1,379
2012 $8,077 $1,245
2011 $8,646 $1,186
2010 $7,973 $1,155
2009 $6,375 $969
2008 $6,185 $1,072
2007 $6,592 $890
2006 $6,077 $810
2005 $5,837 $734
2004 $5,221 $628
2003 $4,062 $549
2002 $2,688 $513
2001 $2,847 $487
2000 $3,218 $493
1999 $3,242 $401
1998 $3,310 $343
1997 $3,700 $383
1996 $3,618 $375
1995 $3,856 $764
1994 $3,489 $1,735
1993 $3,400 $1,397
1992 $3,462 $1,198
1991 $3,243 $1,016
1990 $3,093 $910
1989 $2,727 -
1988 $2,702 -
1987 $2,586 -
1986 $2,027 -
1985 $1,839 -
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/yemen | CC BY

South Africa vs. Yemen life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Yemen
2026 66.7 69.7
2025 66.5 69.6
2024 66.3 69.4
2023 66.1 69.3
2022 65.5 68
2021 62 66
2020 65.2 66.4
2019 66.1 66.6
2018 65.7 65.9
2017 65.4 67.1
2016 64.7 67.1
2015 64.1 66.8
2014 63.2 68
2013 62.4 68
2012 61.7 67.6
2011 60.6 67.4
2010 58.9 67.2
2009 57.4 66.9
2008 56 66.6
2007 54.9 66.2
2006 54.2 65.8
2005 53.9 65.4
2004 54 64.9
2003 54.2 64.4
2002 55.6 63.8
2001 57.2 63.3
2000 58.4 62.8
1999 59.2 62.3
1998 59.9 61.8
1997 60.5 61.3
1996 61.1 60.9
1995 61.6 60.5
1994 62.1 59.8
1993 62.6 59.7
1992 62.8 59.3
1991 63 58.8
1990 62.9 58.5
1989 63 58
1988 62.9 57.4
1987 62.7 56.8
1986 62.4 54
1985 62.2 55.4
1984 61.8 54.6
1983 61.4 53.6
1982 60.9 52.4
1981 60.4 51.7
1980 60 50.6
1979 59.5 49.5
1978 59 48.5
1977 58.5 47.4
1976 58 46.4
1975 57.6 45.5
1974 57.1 44.5
1973 56.7 43.6
1972 56.4 42.7
1971 56 41.8
1970 55.7 40.6
1969 55.4 39.6
1968 55.2 38
1967 55 37.1
1966 54.7 36.3
1965 54.4 35.6
1964 54.2 34.9
1963 53.9 33.4
1962 53.6 33.7
1961 53.1 34.1
1960 52.6 33.5
1959 51.9 32.9
1958 51.1 32.4
1957 50.2 31.8
1956 49.2 31.3
1955 48.2 30.8
1954 47.1 30.4
1953 46.1 30
1952 45 29.6
1951 44.1 29.3
1950 43.1 28.9

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

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

South Africa and Yemen population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year Population
South Africa Yemen
2024 64,007,187 40,583,164
2023 63,212,384 39,390,799
2022 62,378,410 38,222,876
2021 61,502,603 37,140,230
2020 60,562,381 36,134,863
2019 59,587,885 35,111,408
2018 58,613,001 34,085,182
2017 57,635,162 33,090,921
2016 57,259,551 32,109,010
2015 56,723,537 31,159,379
2014 55,594,838 30,226,309
2013 54,678,791 29,312,952
2012 53,782,567 28,433,647
2011 52,995,205 27,582,897
2010 52,344,051 26,754,387
2009 51,728,516 25,927,724
2008 51,114,599 25,111,941
2007 50,528,584 24,318,082
2006 49,998,277 23,543,083
2005 49,490,033 22,790,085
2004 48,991,421 22,095,167
2003 48,500,348 21,456,379
2002 48,019,415 20,835,086
2001 47,566,800 20,226,147
2000 47,159,719 19,624,141
1999 46,730,335 19,029,420
1998 46,223,880 18,446,013
1997 45,666,838 17,873,936
1996 45,123,018 17,313,177
1995 44,541,554 16,740,058
1994 44,004,139 16,149,147
1993 43,297,156 15,563,914
1992 42,443,509 14,989,494
1991 41,687,898 14,430,201
1990 40,746,268 13,887,862
1989 39,628,575 13,364,174
1988 38,480,649 12,859,708
1987 37,326,190 12,369,912
1986 36,180,515 11,901,040
1985 35,042,093 11,453,825
1984 33,892,788 11,025,597
1983 32,739,304 10,621,499
1982 31,615,339 10,241,006
1981 30,541,044 9,882,362
1980 29,518,857 9,543,358
1979 28,634,162 9,224,194
1978 27,869,507 8,926,586
1977 27,118,952 8,648,222
1976 26,395,450 8,384,113
1975 25,690,940 8,133,598
1974 24,989,108 7,896,783
1973 24,294,263 7,672,796
1972 23,609,456 7,460,068
1971 22,942,143 7,257,462
1970 22,279,984 7,065,279
1969 21,614,676 6,875,859
1968 20,957,287 6,690,524
1967 20,314,066 6,516,444
1966 19,690,087 6,351,494
1965 19,089,380 6,195,593
1964 18,511,361 6,048,006
1963 17,954,564 5,911,135
1962 17,418,522 5,782,221
1961 16,908,035 5,655,232
1960 16,440,172 5,532,301

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

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

Fertility rates in South Africa and Yemen

Fertility rate
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Yemen
2023 2.22 4.59
2022 2.23 4.59
2021 2.25 4.6
2020 2.26 4.6
2019 2.26 4.6
2018 2.27 4.61
2017 2.28 4.61
2016 2.26 4.61
2015 2.36 4.62
2014 2.42 4.62
2013 2.43 4.62
2012 2.45 4.63
2011 2.44 4.63
2010 2.44 4.81
2009 2.5 5
2008 2.68 5.11
2007 2.55 5.26
2006 2.55 5.41
2005 2.51 5.56
2004 2.44 5.71
2003 2.36 5.84
2002 2.32 5.97
2001 2.37 6.14
2000 2.41 6.32
1999 2.56 6.49
1998 2.63 6.64
1997 2.73 6.82
1996 2.99 7
1995 3.17 7.53
1994 3.26 7.8
1993 3.37 8.05
1992 3.48 8.27
1991 3.62 8.46
1990 3.72 8.61
1989 3.98 8.71
1988 4.18 8.79
1987 4.35 8.83
1986 4.41 8.86
1985 4.5 8.86
1984 4.57 8.85
1983 4.63 8.83
1982 4.7 8.79
1981 4.71 8.75
1980 4.78 8.71
1979 4.82 8.67
1978 4.85 8.5
1977 4.94 8.47
1976 5.07 8.42
1975 5.19 8.37
1974 5.3 8.33
1973 5.41 8.29
1972 5.49 8.27
1971 5.57 8.26
1970 5.63 8.23
1969 5.72 8.22
1968 5.78 8.19
1967 5.85 8.17
1966 5.91 8.14
1965 5.89 8.1
1964 5.96 8.07
1963 6.01 8.03
1962 6.05 8.01
1961 6.08 8
1960 6.11 7.99

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

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

South Africa and Yemen demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Yemen
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Yemen
2024 29.5 19.3
2023 29.2 19.2
2022 28.9 19.2
2021 28.6 19.1
2020 28.3 19.1
2019 27.9 19.1
2018 27.5 19
2017 27 18.9
2016 26.7 18.8
2015 26.4 18.7
2014 26 18.5
2013 25.7 18.3
2012 25.3 18.1
2011 25 17.9
2010 24.6 17.7
2009 24.3 17.4
2008 24 17.2
2007 23.8 16.9
2006 23.5 16.7
2005 23.3 16.4
2004 23.1 16.2
2003 22.8 16
2002 22.4 15.8
2001 22.2 15.6
2000 21.9 15.4
1999 21.6 15.2
1998 21.4 15
1997 21.2 14.9
1996 21.2 14.8
1995 21.5 14.7
1994 22 14.6
1993 21.9 14.6
1992 21.5 14.6
1991 21.5 14.6
1990 21.3 14.6
1989 21.1 14.6
1988 20.9 14.7
1987 20.7 14.8
1986 20.5 14.9
1985 20.4 15
1984 20.2 15.1
1983 20 15.3
1982 19.8 15.5
1981 19.6 15.7
1980 19.4 15.9
1979 19.3 16.1
1978 19.2 16.3
1977 19.1 16.6
1976 19 16.8
1975 18.9 17
1974 18.9 17.3
1973 18.8 17.6
1972 18.8 17.8
1971 18.8 18.1
1970 18.8 18.4
1969 18.8 18.7
1968 18.8 18.9
1967 18.8 19.1
1966 18.8 19.2
1965 18.8 19.3
1964 18.9 19.4
1963 18.9 19.5
1962 18.9 19.6
1961 19 19.6
1960 19 19.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Yemen
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$25.3B
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
8.91%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
5.46%
2012
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
3.97%
2014
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
40,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-2.48%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
13.5%
2014
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
25.4%
2018
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
53.7
2015
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
3%
2014
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
$1.25B
2022
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$3.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
398,000
2015
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
12.4%
2016
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
11.9%
2022

Energy

South Africa Yemen
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
68.9 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$11.2
2013
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
10.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
0.26 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
93.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
3.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
1.64%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
-11%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
54 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
0%
2021
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
83.6%
2023

Society

South Africa Yemen
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.5%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
-16,291
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
36.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.7:49.3
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.39 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.08 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
17.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
13
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
17
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
6.31
2013
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
29.4
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
44
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
54.1%
2004
English speaking
31%
2023
9%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
13.8%
2020

Health

South Africa Yemen
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$47.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$33
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
69.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
21.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.1
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
20.8 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
39.3
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
14.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
5.5%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
31
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
21.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
0.04 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Yemen
% of world land
0.81%
2026
0.35%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
5,023 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
90,549 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
2,120 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
n/a

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) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2018–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2015–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  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.