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.
| Indicator | South Africa | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 123,366,734 | −47.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 4,435 | −90.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 35,951 | −81.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 377,969 | +222.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 326 | −83.7% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 55,274 | −94.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 1.37 | −48.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 3.25 | −35.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 448 | −90.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 261,000 | −65.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 2.1 | −35.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.38 | +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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Africa is 47.5% lower than Japan.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 90.4% lower than Japan.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 81.6% lower than Japan.
South AfricaJapan
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 Japan.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI