China vs South Africa
Every indicator for China and South Africa side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 64,747,319 | +2,072.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 427 | +4,466.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 6,598 | +110.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 66.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 1,219,090 | +684.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 53 | +176.9% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 28.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 78.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 32.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 2,836 | +10,959.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 0.70 | +144.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 2.11 | +139.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 44 | +409.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 89,000 | +2,748.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 1.4 | +31.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.40 | −17.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to South Africa; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China 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 111 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 111 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against South Africa's 427 — roughly 46 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against South Africa's 89,000 — roughly 28 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against South Africa's 64,747,319 — roughly 22 times as much.
- China's area (9,562,910) is about 7.8 times South Africa's (1,219,090).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and South Africa differ most?
Where are China and South Africa most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of South Africa?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.