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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Africa is 12.5% higher than Kenya.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 214.0% higher than Kenya.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 179.2% higher than Kenya.
South AfricaKenya
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.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI