Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 3.9 times the population of South Africa: 255.22 million people against 64.75 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $407.31B for Pakistan and $427.18B for South Africa.
Per person, South Africa is the wealthier of the two: $6,598 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | South Africa | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $427.18B | 2025 | $373.07B / $400.26B |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $6,598 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 12.6% / 4.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.4% | 32.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $485 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $261 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $3.49 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 64.75 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 61.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 28.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 2.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.8 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 64% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 78% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 1,221,037 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 53.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 180 Mt | 440 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 6.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $2.84B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 3.2% in South Africa.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 41 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Africa: $485 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 28.7 years.
Life expectancy is 1.5 years longer in Pakistan (67.8 vs 66.3).
South Africa is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Africa (78% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 28% smaller than South Africa: 881,912 km² versus 1,221,037 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 53.
Military
Pakistan spends 3.6 times as much on defence as South Africa: $10.17B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than South Africa?
- South Africa is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while South Africa covers 1,221,037 km², so South Africa is 38% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or South Africa?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 64.75 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than South Africa?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Africa is richer: $6,598 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $427.18B for South Africa.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or South Africa?
- Pakistan spends more: $10.17B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).