Updated
Overview
South Africa has 21 times the population of Namibia: 64.75 million people against 3.09 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 28 times the size of Namibia's, at $427.18B versus $15.08B.
Per person, South Africa is the wealthier of the two: $6,598 against $4,876 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Namibia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $15.08B | 2025 | $400.26B / $13.37B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $6,598 | $4,876 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 3.5% | 2025 | 4.4% / 4.2% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 19.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | — | 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 3.09 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 2.85 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 21.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 3.17 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 67.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 51% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 78% | 65% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 825,615 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 3.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 3.47 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 1.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $362.39M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 16,000 | 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
Namibia is growing faster: 1.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 3.5% in Namibia.
People and society
Namibia is the younger society: median age 21.3 versus 28.7 years.
Life expectancy is 1.2 years longer in Namibia (67.5 vs 66.3).
South Africa is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 51%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Africa (78% vs 65% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 48% larger than Namibia: 1,221,037 km² versus 825,615 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 4.
Military
South Africa spends 7.8 times as much on defence as Namibia: $2.84B versus $362.39M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Namibia carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 0.7%.
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 16,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Namibia?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Namibia covers 825,615 km², so South Africa is 48% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Namibia?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 3.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Namibia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Africa is richer: $6,598 against $4,876. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $15.08B for Namibia.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Namibia?
- South Africa spends more: $2.84B versus $362.39M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).