Updated
Overview
South Africa has about 75% more people than Saudi Arabia: 64.75 million against 36.97 million (2025).
Saudi Arabia's economy is 3.0 times the size of South Africa's, at $1.28T versus $427.18B.
Per person, Saudi Arabia is the wealthier of the two: $34,537 against $6,598 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Saudi Arabia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $427.18B | Higher: $1.28T | 2025 | $400.26B / $1.24T |
| GDP per capita | $6,598 | Higher: $34,537 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 4.4% / 1.7% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 47 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $485 | Higher: $1,799 | 2020 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $261 | Higher: $1,067 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | $5.06 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 36.97 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 36.54 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 2.29 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 79.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 85% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 78% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 2,149,690 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 17.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 440 Mt | 692 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.9 t | 20.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $80.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 7.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 282,000 | 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
Saudi Arabia is growing much faster: 4.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 2.1% in Saudi Arabia.
Average monthly earnings favour Saudi Arabia: $1,799 against $485 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 28.7 (South Africa) and 29.6 (Saudi Arabia).
Life expectancy is 12.7 years longer in Saudi Arabia (79.0 vs 66.3).
Saudi Arabia is considerably more urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, against 64%.
Internet adoption is higher in Saudi Arabia (100% vs 78% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 43% smaller than Saudi Arabia: 1,221,037 km² versus 2,149,690 km².
South Africa is far more densely settled: 53 people per km² against 17.
Military
Saudi Arabia spends 28 times as much on defence as South Africa: $80.33B versus $2.84B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Saudi Arabia carries the heavier military burden: 7.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Saudi Arabia fields the larger armed forces: 282,000 personnel against 89,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², so Saudi Arabia is 76% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Saudi Arabia?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 36.97 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Saudi Arabia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Saudi Arabia is richer: $34,537 against $6,598. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $1.28T for Saudi Arabia.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia spends more: $80.33B versus $2.84B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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