United Kingdom vs South Africa
Every indicator for United Kingdom and South Africa side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 69,487,000 | 64,747,319 | +7.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,003 | 427 | +837.5% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,602 | 6,598 | +773.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 66.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 243,610 | 1,219,090 | −80.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 285 | 53 | +437.1% |
| Median age (years) | 40.6 | 28.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.5 | 78.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 | 32.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.9 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.3 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 81,763 | 2,836 | +2,783.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.28 | 0.70 | +225.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.25 | 2.11 | +148.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,177 | 44 | +2,586.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 153,000 | 89,000 | +71.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 1.4 | +60.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.45 | 0.40 | +12.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Kingdom relative to South Africa; a positive value favors United Kingdom. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United Kingdom is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 29 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United Kingdom stands at 81,763 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 29 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: United Kingdom stands at 1,177 against South Africa's 44 — roughly 27 times as much.
- United Kingdom's gdp (nominal) (4,003) is about 9.4 times South Africa's (427).
- United Kingdom's gdp per capita (57,602) is about 8.7 times South Africa's (6,598).
- United Kingdom's population density (285) is about 5.4 times South Africa's (53).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Kingdom and South Africa differ most?
Where are United Kingdom and South Africa most alike?
On how many indicators is United Kingdom ahead of South Africa?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United Kingdom or South Africa.
United Kingdom profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.