Updated
Overview
South Africa has 12 times the population of Ireland: 64.75 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is about 70% larger than South Africa's, at $721.70B versus $427.18B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $427.18B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $400.26B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $5,697 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 2.2% in Ireland.
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 Ireland: $5,697 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 16.7 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 66.3).
Internet adoption is higher in Ireland (97% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 17 times the size of Ireland: 1,221,037 km² versus 70,273 km².
Military
South Africa spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Ireland: $2.84B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Ireland?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so South Africa is 17 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Ireland?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Ireland?
- South Africa spends more: $2.84B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).