At a glance
Nigeria vs South Africa: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  Nigeria |  South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 243,860,821 | 65,655,199 | Nigeria 3.7× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +2 | +1.1 | +1 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 2642026 | 53.92026 | +210.1 |
| Surface area km² | 923,7702023 | 1,219,0902023 | South Africa 1.3× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 32.52024 | 18.52024 | +14 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 11.62024 | 9.22024 | +2.4 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | 0 | +2 | -2 |
| Urban population % of population | 63.82025 | 63.82025 | 0 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 102.5 | 94.7 | +7.8 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 54.62024 | 66.32024 | -11.7 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 4.382024 | 2.212024 | +2.18 |
| Median age years | 18.3 | 28.9 | -10.6 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 66.9 | 21.9 | +45 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 40.52025 | 25.72025 | +14.8 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.12025 | 6.92025 | -3.8 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $290.79B2025 | $427.18B2025 | South Africa 1.5× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $1,2242025 | $6,5982025 | South Africa 5.4× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 3.12025 | 32.42025 | -29.3 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 232025 | 3.22025 | +19.8 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 131.92024 | 440.22024 | South Africa 3.3× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 0.572024 | 6.882024 | -6.31 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 3202023 | 1,9392023 | South Africa 6.1× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 80.32021 | 9.72021 | +70.6 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 23.22023 | 142023 | +9.2 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 9902022 | 7182022 | Nigeria 1.4× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 5.62022 | 47.12022 | -41.5 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 41.22024 | 78.42024 | -37.1 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70.82024 | 179.32024 | -108.6 |
▲ 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 Nigeria minus South Africa for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Nigeria compared with South Africa
Nigeria has a live population of about 243,860,821 (#6 in the world) and South Africa about 65,655,199 (#24), so Nigeria has 3.7 times as many people as South Africa. Nigeria is growing at 2% a year and South Africa at 1.1%.
By area South Africa is larger: 1,219,090 km² against 923,770 km², which gives population densities of 264 people per km² in Nigeria and 53.9 in South Africa.
Nigeria's economy is worth $290.79B (2025) and South Africa's $427.18B (2025); per person that is $1,224 in Nigeria versus $6,598 in South Africa, so the average South Africa resident produces 5.4 times as much.
Life expectancy is 54.6 years in Nigeria and 66.3 in South Africa; women have 4.4 children on average in Nigeria compared with 2.2 in South Africa; the median age is 18.3 versus 28.9 years.
63.8% of Nigeria's people live in cities against 63.8% in South Africa; 41.2% use the internet in Nigeria and 78.4% in South Africa; CO₂ emissions per person are 0.6 t in Nigeria 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, Nigeria or South Africa?
By population Nigeria is bigger: 243,860,821 people versus 65,655,199 (live estimates, October 2026). By area South Africa is larger (1,219,090 km² vs 923,770 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Nigeria or South Africa?
South Africa: GDP of $427,184,325,997 versus $290,794,361,542 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, Nigeria or South Africa?
Life expectancy at birth is 54.6 years in Nigeria and 66.3 years in South Africa, a difference of 11.7 years in favour of South Africa.
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.
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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.