At a glance
United States vs South Africa: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  United States |  South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 349,542,027 | 65,655,199 | United States 5.3× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +0.5 | +1.1 | -0.6 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 35.62026 | 53.92026 | -18.3 |
| Surface area km² | 9,831,5102023 | 1,219,0902023 | United States 8.1× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 10.62024 | 18.52024 | -7.9 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 92024 | 9.22024 | -0.2 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | +3.4 | +2 | +1.4 |
| Urban population % of population | 80.22025 | 63.82025 | +16.4 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 101 | 94.7 | +6.3 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 78.92024 | 66.32024 | +12.6 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.632024 | 2.212024 | -0.58 |
| Median age years | 38.7 | 28.9 | +9.8 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 4.7 | 21.9 | -17.2 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 17.12025 | 25.72025 | -8.6 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 18.42025 | 6.92025 | +11.5 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $30.77T2025 | $427.18B2025 | United States 72× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $90,0272025 | $6,5982025 | United States 14× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.22025 | 32.42025 | -28.2 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 2.92024 | 3.22025 | -0.3 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 4,632.22024 | 440.22024 | United States 11× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 13.622024 | 6.882024 | +6.75 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 6,3612024 | 1,9392023 | United States 3.3× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 10.92021 | 9.72021 | +1.2 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 33.92023 | 142023 | +19.9 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 8,4372022 | 7182022 | United States 12× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 15.82022 | 47.12022 | -31.4 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 94.72024 | 78.42024 | +16.3 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 113.22024 | 179.32024 | -66.1 |
▲ 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 United States minus South Africa for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
United States compared with South Africa
United States has a live population of about 349,542,027 (#3 in the world) and South Africa about 65,655,199 (#24), so United States has 5.3 times as many people as South Africa. United States is growing at 0.5% a year and South Africa at 1.1%.
By area United States is larger: 9,831,510 km² against 1,219,090 km², which gives population densities of 35.6 people per km² in United States and 53.9 in South Africa.
United States's economy is worth $30.77T (2025) and South Africa's $427.18B (2025); per person that is $90,027 in United States versus $6,598 in South Africa, so the average United States resident produces 13.6 times as much.
Life expectancy is 78.9 years in United States and 66.3 in South Africa; women have 1.6 children on average in United States compared with 2.2 in South Africa; the median age is 38.7 versus 28.9 years.
80.2% of United States's people live in cities against 63.8% in South Africa; 94.7% use the internet in United States and 78.4% in South Africa; CO₂ emissions per person are 13.6 t in United States 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, United States or South Africa?
By population United States is bigger: 349,542,027 people versus 65,655,199 (live estimates, October 2026). By area United States is larger (9,831,510 km² vs 1,219,090 km²).
Which has the larger economy, United States or South Africa?
United States: GDP of $30,769,700,000,000 versus $427,184,325,997 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, United States or South Africa?
Life expectancy at birth is 78.9 years in United States and 66.3 years in South Africa, a difference of 12.6 years in favour of United States.
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.