Morocco vs South Africa
Every indicator for Morocco and South Africa side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Morocco | South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 38,430,770 | 64,747,319 | −40.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 182 | 427 | −57.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 4,672 | 6,598 | −29.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.5 | 66.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 446,550 | 1,219,090 | −63.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 86 | 53 | +62.0% |
| Median age (years) | — | 28.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.2 | 78.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 9.0 | 32.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.1 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 5,518 | 2,836 | +94.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.52 | 0.70 | +402.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 10.67 | 2.11 | +405.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 144 | 44 | +227.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 246,000 | 89,000 | +176.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 6.4 | 1.4 | +365.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.07 | 0.40 | +417.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Morocco relative to South Africa; a positive value favors Morocco. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Morocco is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 5.2 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Morocco's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.07) is about 5.2 times South Africa's (0.40).
- Morocco's military expenditure as a share of government spending (10.67) is about 5.1 times South Africa's (2.11).
- Morocco's military expenditure as a share of gdp (3.52) is about 5.0 times South Africa's (0.70).
- Morocco's armed forces per 1,000 people (6.4) is about 4.7 times South Africa's (1.4).
- Morocco's military expenditure per capita (144) is about 3.3 times South Africa's (44).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Morocco and South Africa differ most?
Where are Morocco and South Africa most alike?
On how many indicators is Morocco 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 Morocco or South Africa.
Morocco profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.