Updated
Overview
South Africa has 5.9 times the population of Czechia (Czech Republic): 64.75 million people against 10.89 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $427.18B for South Africa and $391.03B for Czechia (Czech Republic).
Per person, Czechia (Czech Republic) is the wealthier of the two: $35,917 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Czechia (Czech Republic) | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $391.03B | 2025 | $400.26B / $345.04B |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $35,917 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 4.4% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 59 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $2,716 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $951 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | $5.43 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 10.89 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 10.84 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 43.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 80.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 73% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 78,865 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 138.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 76 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.9 t | 7.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $6.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 27,000 | 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
Czechia (Czech Republic) is growing faster: 2.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 2.5% in Czechia (Czech Republic).
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Africa: a price level of 41 versus 59 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Czechia (Czech Republic): $2,716 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 43.8 years.
Life expectancy is 13.7 years longer in Czechia (Czech Republic) (80.0 vs 66.3).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 15 times the size of Czechia (Czech Republic): 1,221,037 km² versus 78,865 km².
Czechia (Czech Republic) is far more densely settled: 138 people per km² against 53.
Military
Czechia (Czech Republic) spends 2.3 times as much on defence as South Africa: $6.52B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Czechia (Czech Republic) carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.7%.
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 27,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Czechia (Czech Republic)?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Czechia (Czech Republic) covers 78,865 km², so South Africa is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Czechia (Czech Republic)?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 10.89 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Czechia (Czech Republic)?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Czechia (Czech Republic) is richer: $35,917 against $6,598. Total GDP tells a different story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $391.03B for Czechia (Czech Republic).
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Czechia (Czech Republic)?
- Czechia (Czech Republic) spends more: $6.52B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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