South Africa vs Kenya
Every indicator for South Africa and Kenya side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Kenya | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 57,532,493 | +12.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 136 | +214.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 2,363 | +179.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 63.8 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 591,969 | +105.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 97 | −45.4% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 20.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 35.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 5.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 4.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 32.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 1,231 | +130.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 1.00 | −30.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 4.43 | −52.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 21 | +104.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 24,000 | +270.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 0.4 | +229.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.11 | +263.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Kenya; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
South Africa is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Kenya leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 3.7 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- South Africa's armed forces personnel (2020) (89,000) is about 3.7 times Kenya's (24,000).
- South Africa's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.40) is about 3.6 times Kenya's (0.11).
- South Africa's armed forces per 1,000 people (1.4) is about 3.3 times Kenya's (0.4).
- South Africa's gdp (nominal) (427) is about 3.1 times Kenya's (136).
- South Africa's gdp per capita (6,598) is about 2.8 times Kenya's (2,363).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and Kenya differ most?
Where are South Africa and Kenya most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of Kenya?
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 Kenya.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Kenya profile →
All statistics, series, and details.