At a glance
India vs South Africa: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  India |  South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 1,480,399,629 | 65,655,199 | India 23× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +0.9 | +1.1 | -0.2 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 450.32026 | 53.92026 | +396.5 |
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2602023 | 1,219,0902023 | India 2.7× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 162024 | 18.52024 | -2.5 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 6.62024 | 9.22024 | -2.7 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.3 | +2 | -2.3 |
| Urban population % of population | 35.72025 | 63.82025 | -28.1 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 106.4 | 94.7 | +11.7 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 72.22024 | 66.32024 | +5.9 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.962024 | 2.212024 | -0.24 |
| Median age years | 29.2 | 28.9 | +0.3 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 20.9 | 21.9 | -1 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 24.22025 | 25.72025 | -1.5 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 7.42025 | 6.92025 | +0.5 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $3.96T2025 | $427.18B2025 | India 9.3× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $2,7022025 | $6,5982025 | South Africa 2.4× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.22025 | 32.42025 | -28.2 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 2.42025 | 3.22025 | -0.8 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 3,153.82024 | 440.22024 | India 7.2× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 2.172024 | 6.882024 | -4.7 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 7632023 | 1,9392023 | South Africa 2.5× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 34.92021 | 9.72021 | +25.2 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.52023 | 142023 | +10.6 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 1,0142022 | 7182022 | India 1.4× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 44.82022 | 47.12022 | -2.3 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 702025 | 78.42024 | -8.4 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79.42024 | 179.32024 | -100 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and India minus South Africa for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
India compared with South Africa
India has a live population of about 1,480,399,629 (#1 in the world) and South Africa about 65,655,199 (#24), so India has 22.5 times as many people as South Africa. India is growing at 0.9% a year and South Africa at 1.1%.
By area India is larger: 3,287,260 km² against 1,219,090 km², which gives population densities of 450.3 people per km² in India and 53.9 in South Africa.
India's economy is worth $3.96T (2025) and South Africa's $427.18B (2025); per person that is $2,702 in India versus $6,598 in South Africa, so the average South Africa resident produces 2.4 times as much.
Life expectancy is 72.2 years in India and 66.3 in South Africa; women have 2 children on average in India compared with 2.2 in South Africa; the median age is 29.2 versus 28.9 years.
35.7% of India's people live in cities against 63.8% in South Africa; 70% use the internet in India and 78.4% in South Africa; CO₂ emissions per person are 2.2 t in India and 6.9 t in South Africa.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, India or South Africa?
By population India is bigger: 1,480,399,629 people versus 65,655,199 (live estimates, October 2026). By area India is larger (3,287,260 km² vs 1,219,090 km²).
Which has the larger economy, India or South Africa?
India: GDP of $3,956,067,115,772 versus $427,184,325,997 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, India or South Africa?
Life expectancy at birth is 72.2 years in India and 66.3 years in South Africa, a difference of 5.9 years in favour of India.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
Explore more
India vs China
India vs Indonesia
India vs Pakistan
India vs BangladeshIndia vs China
India vs United StatesIndia vs Indonesia
South Africa vs Nigeria
South Africa vs Ethiopia
South Africa vs Egypt
South Africa vs DR Congo
South Africa vs France
South Africa vs United Kingdom
South Africa vs ItalySources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.