South Africa vs Italy
Every indicator for South Africa and Italy side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Italy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 58,915,656 | +9.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 2,552 | −83.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 43,309 | −84.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 302,070 | +303.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 195 | −72.8% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 48.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 89.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 6.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 1.5 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 69.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 37,965 | −92.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 1.61 | −56.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 3.18 | −33.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 644 | −93.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 338,000 | −73.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 5.7 | −76.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 1.35 | −70.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Italy; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Italy is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 15 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Italy stands at 644 against South Africa's 44 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Italy stands at 37,965 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Italy's gdp per capita (43,309) is about 6.6 times South Africa's (6,598).
- Italy's gdp (nominal) (2,552) is about 6.0 times South Africa's (427).
- Italy's armed forces per 1,000 people (5.7) is about 4.2 times South Africa's (1.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and Italy differ most?
Where are South Africa and Italy most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of Italy?
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 Italy.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Italy profile →
All statistics, series, and details.