Updated
Overview
South Africa has 3.6 times the population of the Netherlands: 64.75 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 3.1 times the size of South Africa's, at $1.33T versus $427.18B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $427.18B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $400.26B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 3.3% | 2025 | 4.4% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $6,402 | 2020 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 41,000 | 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
The Netherlands is growing faster: 1.8% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Africa: a price level of 41 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Africa is the far younger society: median age 28.7 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 15.7 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 66.3).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 29 times the size of the Netherlands: 1,221,037 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 53.
Military
The Netherlands spends 8.2 times as much on defence as South Africa: $23.18B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.7%.
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than the Netherlands?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so South Africa is 29 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or the Netherlands?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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