Algeria vs South Africa
Every indicator for Algeria and South Africa side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Algeria | South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 47,435,312 | 64,747,319 | −26.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 287 | 427 | −32.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,051 | 6,598 | −8.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.5 | 66.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 2,381,740 | 1,219,090 | +95.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 20 | 53 | −62.5% |
| Median age (years) | — | 28.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 77.4 | 78.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 11.6 | 32.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.4 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 75.8 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 21,811 | 2,836 | +669.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 7.97 | 0.70 | +1,038.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 21.38 | 2.11 | +913.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 460 | 44 | +949.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 326,000 | 89,000 | +266.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 6.9 | 1.4 | +400.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.81 | 0.40 | +602.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Algeria relative to South Africa; a positive value favors Algeria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
Key differences
- On population (2025), Algeria is 26.7% lower than South Africa.
- On gdp (nominal), Algeria is 32.8% lower than South Africa.
- On gdp per capita, Algeria is 8.3% lower than South Africa.
AlgeriaSouth 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 Algeria or South Africa.
Algeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI