South Africa vs India
Every indicator for South Africa and India side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | India | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 1,463,865,525 | −95.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 3,956 | −89.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 2,702 | +144.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 72.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 3,287,260 | −62.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 445 | −88.1% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 28.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 70.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 4.2 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 2.4 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 35.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 86,126 | −96.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 2.27 | −69.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 7.63 | −72.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 59 | −25.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 3,068,000 | −97.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 2.1 | −34.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.58 | −31.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to India; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
India is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 34 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 3,068,000 against South Africa's 89,000 — roughly 34 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 86,126 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 30 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 1,463,865,525 against South Africa's 64,747,319 — roughly 23 times as much.
- India's gdp (nominal) (3,956) is about 9.3 times South Africa's (427).
- India's population density (445) is about 8.4 times South Africa's (53).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and India differ most?
Where are South Africa and India most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of India?
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 South Africa or India.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
India profile →
All statistics, series, and details.