Updated
Overview
South Africa has 6.4 times the population of Israel: 64.75 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is about 45% larger than South Africa's, at $610.78B versus $427.18B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $427.18B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $400.26B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 4.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $3,383 | 2020 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 178,000 | 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
Israel is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Africa: a price level of 41 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 28.7 (South Africa) and 29.2 (Israel).
Life expectancy is 16.9 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 66.3).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 59 times the size of Israel: 1,221,037 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 53.
Military
Israel spends 16 times as much on defence as South Africa: $46.51B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Israel fields the larger armed forces: 178,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Israel?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so South Africa is 59 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Israel?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).