Updated
Overview
South Africa has 11 times the population of Finland: 64.75 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 35% larger than Finland's, at $427.18B versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $317.04B | 2025 | $400.26B / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.1% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 4.4% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $5,760 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 22,000 | 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
South Africa is growing faster: 1.1% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
South Africa runs the hotter price environment: 3.2% inflation versus 0.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Africa: a price level of 41 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 16.0 years longer in Finland (82.3 vs 66.3).
Finland is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Internet adoption is higher in Finland (94% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 3.6 times the size of Finland: 1,221,037 km² versus 338,424 km².
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 17.
Military
Finland spends 2.5 times as much on defence as South Africa: $6.99B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Finland carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Finland?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so South Africa is 3.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Finland?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $6,598. Total GDP tells a different story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Finland?
- Finland spends more: $6.99B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).