At a glance
South Africa vs Kenya: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  South Africa |  Kenya | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 65,656,172 | 58,963,111 | South Africa 1.1× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +1.1 | +1.9 | -0.8 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 53.92026 | 99.62026 | -45.7 |
| Surface area km² | 1,219,0902023 | 591,9692023 | South Africa 2.1× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 18.52024 | 272024 | -8.5 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 9.22024 | 7.22024 | +2.1 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | +2 | -0.6 | +2.6 |
| Urban population % of population | 63.82025 | 32.22025 | +31.6 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 94.7 | 98.8 | -4.1 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 66.32024 | 63.82024 | +2.5 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 2.212024 | 3.172024 | -0.96 |
| Median age years | 28.9 | 20.3 | +8.6 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 21.9 | 28.2 | -6.3 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 25.72025 | 36.32025 | -10.5 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 6.92025 | 32025 | +3.9 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $427.18B2025 | $135.94B2025 | South Africa 3.1× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $6,5982025 | $2,3632025 | South Africa 2.8× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 32.42025 | 5.42025 | +26.9 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 3.22025 | 4.12025 | -0.9 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 440.22024 | 21.642024 | South Africa 20× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 6.882024 | 0.382024 | +6.49 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 1,9392023 | 5392024 | South Africa 3.6× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 9.72021 | 67.72021 | -58 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 142023 | 6.22023 | +7.7 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 7182022 | 3822022 | South Africa 1.9× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 47.12022 | 19.52022 | +27.6 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 78.42024 | 352024 | +43.4 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 179.32024 | 126.52024 | +52.9 |
▲ 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 South Africa minus Kenya for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
South Africa compared with Kenya
South Africa has a live population of about 65,656,172 (#24 in the world) and Kenya about 58,963,111 (#26), so South Africa has 1.1 times as many people as Kenya. South Africa is growing at 1.1% a year and Kenya at 1.9%.
By area South Africa is larger: 1,219,090 km² against 591,969 km², which gives population densities of 53.9 people per km² in South Africa and 99.6 in Kenya.
South Africa's economy is worth $427.18B (2025) and Kenya's $135.94B (2025); per person that is $6,598 in South Africa versus $2,363 in Kenya, so the average South Africa resident produces 2.8 times as much.
Life expectancy is 66.3 years in South Africa and 63.8 in Kenya; women have 2.2 children on average in South Africa compared with 3.2 in Kenya; the median age is 28.9 versus 20.3 years.
63.8% of South Africa's people live in cities against 32.2% in Kenya; 78.4% use the internet in South Africa and 35% in Kenya; CO₂ emissions per person are 6.9 t in South Africa and 0.4 t in Kenya.
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, South Africa or Kenya?
By population South Africa is bigger: 65,656,172 people versus 58,963,111 (live estimates, October 2026). By area South Africa is larger (1,219,090 km² vs 591,969 km²).
Which has the larger economy, South Africa or Kenya?
South Africa: GDP of $427,184,325,997 versus $135,941,278,879 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, South Africa or Kenya?
Life expectancy at birth is 66.3 years in South Africa and 63.8 years in Kenya, a difference of 2.5 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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Kenya vs ColombiaSources & 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 2026-10-20. More about our data.