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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Africa is 9.9% higher than Italy.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 83.3% lower than Italy.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 84.8% lower than Italy.
South AfricaItaly
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.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI