France vs South Africa
Every indicator for France and South Africa side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | France | South Africa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 68,720,337 | 64,747,319 | +6.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 3,366 | 427 | +688.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 48,986 | 6,598 | +642.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.0 | 66.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 606,410 | 1,219,090 | −50.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 113 | 53 | +113.4% |
| Median age (years) | 42.3 | 28.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 88.7 | 78.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 7.5 | 32.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.9 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 78.8 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 64,675 | 2,836 | +2,180.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.05 | 0.70 | +192.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.59 | 2.11 | +70.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 941 | 44 | +2,048.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 304,000 | 89,000 | +241.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.4 | 1.4 | +221.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.00 | 0.40 | +150.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of France relative to South Africa; a positive value favors France. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
France 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 23 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: France stands at 64,675 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 23 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: France stands at 941 against South Africa's 44 — roughly 21 times as much.
- France's gdp (nominal) (3,366) is about 7.9 times South Africa's (427).
- France's gdp per capita (48,986) is about 7.4 times South Africa's (6,598).
- France's armed forces personnel (2020) (304,000) is about 3.4 times South Africa's (89,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do France and South Africa differ most?
Where are France and South Africa most alike?
On how many indicators is France 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 France or South Africa.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.