South Africa vs Japan

Every indicator for South Africa and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

South AfricaVSJapan
Indicator comparison
IndicatorSouth AfricaJapanDifference
Population (2025) (people)64,747,319123,366,734−47.5%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)4274,435−90.4%
GDP per capita ($)6,59835,951−81.6%
Life expectancy (years)66.384.0—
Area (km²)1,219,090377,969+222.5%
Population density (people/km²)53326−83.7%
Median age (years)28.049.4—
Internet usage (%)78.485.5—
Unemployment rate (%)32.42.5—
Inflation (%)3.23.2—
Urban population (%)63.892.3—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)2,83655,274−94.9%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)0.701.37−48.9%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)2.113.25−35.1%
Military expenditure per capita ($)44448−90.2%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)89,000261,000−65.9%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)1.42.1−35.0%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.400.38+5.3%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Japan; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Japan is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while South Africa leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 19 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.

Key differences

  • Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 55,274 against South Africa's 2,836 — roughly 19 times as much.
  • GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 4,435 against South Africa's 427 — roughly 10 times as much.
  • Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 448 against South Africa's 44 — roughly 10 times as much.
  • Japan's population density (326) is about 6.1 times South Africa's (53).
  • Japan's gdp per capita (35,951) is about 5.4 times South Africa's (6,598).

Frequently asked questions

Where do South Africa and Japan differ most?
In military expenditure (2024). Japan records 55,274 against South Africa's 2,836 — a ratio of roughly 19 to one.
Where are South Africa and Japan most alike?
In armed forces as a share of the labor force, at 0.40 and 0.38 — a gap of only %5.3.
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of Japan?
South Africa is higher on 2 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 10. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
South Africa and Japan — core indicators
050 M100 M150 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — South Africa: 64,747,319GDP (nominal) — South Africa: 427GDP per capita — South Africa: 6,598Area — South Africa: 1,219,090Population (2025) — Japan: 123,366,734GDP (nominal) — Japan: 4,435GDP per capita — Japan: 35,951Area — Japan: 377,969
South AfricaJapan

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving South Africa or Japan.

United Kingdom vs South AfricaSweden vs JapanSouth Africa vs IndiaJapan vs KenyaFrance vs South AfricaJapan vs ColombiaSouth Africa vs RussiaJapan vs Hungary

South Africa profile →

All statistics, series, and details.

Japan profile →

All statistics, series, and details.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI