Updated
Overview
South Africa has 3.3 times the population of Chile: 64.75 million people against 19.86 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 20% larger than Chile's, at $427.18B versus $357.37B.
Per person, Chile is the wealthier of the two: $17,995 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Chile | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $357.37B | 2025 | $400.26B / $330.27B |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $17,995 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 4.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 4.3% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 48 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $1,024 | 2020 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $530 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | $5.41 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 19.86 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 19.09 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 36.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.13 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 756,102 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 26.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 79 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $5.11B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 114,000 | 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
Chile is growing faster: 2.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 4.2% in Chile.
Average monthly earnings favour Chile: $1,024 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 36.9 years.
Life expectancy is 15.0 years longer in Chile (81.4 vs 66.3).
Chile is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Internet adoption is higher in Chile (96% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 61% larger than Chile: 1,221,037 km² versus 756,102 km².
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 26.
Military
Chile spends about 80% more on defence than South Africa: $5.11B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Chile carries the heavier military burden: 1.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Chile fields the larger armed forces: 114,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Chile?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Chile covers 756,102 km², so South Africa is 61% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Chile?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 19.86 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Chile?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Chile is richer: $17,995 against $6,598. Total GDP tells a different story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $357.37B for Chile.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Chile?
- Chile spends more: $5.11B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).