Updated
Overview
Egypt has about 85% more people than South Africa: 118.37 million against 64.75 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 17% larger than Egypt's, at $427.18B versus $365.25B.
Per person, South Africa is the wealthier of the two: $6,598 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | South Africa | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $427.18B | 2025 | $389.06B / $400.26B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $6,598 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 28.3% / 4.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.8% | 32.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $485 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $261 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $3.49 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 64.75 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 61.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 28.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 2.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 71.8 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 64% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 78% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 1,221,037 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 53.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 258 Mt | 440 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 6.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $2.84B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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
Egypt is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 3.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 41 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Africa: $485 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the younger society: median age 24.5 versus 28.7 years.
Life expectancy is 5.5 years longer in Egypt (71.8 vs 66.3).
South Africa is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 18% smaller than South Africa: 1,002,450 km² versus 1,221,037 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Egypt is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 53.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $2.40B (Egypt) and $2.84B (South Africa).
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than South Africa?
- South Africa is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while South Africa covers 1,221,037 km², so South Africa is 22% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or South Africa?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 64.75 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than South Africa?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Africa is richer: $6,598 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $427.18B for South Africa.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or South Africa?
- South Africa spends more: $2.84B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).