Updated
Overview
Brazil has 3.3 times the population of South Africa: 212.81 million people against 64.75 million (2025).
Brazil's economy is 5.3 times the size of South Africa's, at $2.28T versus $427.18B.
Per person, Brazil is the wealthier of the two: $10,713 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | South Africa | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $427.18B | 2025 | $2.18T / $400.26B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $10,713 | $6,598 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 4.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.0% | 32.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $607 | $485 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $262 | $261 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | $3.49 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 64.75 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 61.09 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 28.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 2.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.0 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 64% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 84% | 78% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 1,221,037 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 53.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 440 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 6.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $2.84B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 89,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Brazil is growing faster: 2.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 5.0% in Brazil and 3.2% in South Africa.
Average monthly earnings favour Brazil: $607 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the younger society: median age 28.7 versus 34.8 years.
Life expectancy is 9.7 years longer in Brazil (76.0 vs 66.3).
Brazil is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 7.0 times the size of South Africa: 8,515,767 km² versus 1,221,037 km².
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 25.
Military
Brazil spends 7.4 times as much on defence as South Africa: $20.95B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than South Africa?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while South Africa covers 1,221,037 km², so Brazil is 7.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or South Africa?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 64.75 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than South Africa?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Brazil is richer: $10,713 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $427.18B for South Africa.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or South Africa?
- Brazil spends more: $20.95B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).