South Africa vs Egypt
Every indicator for South Africa and Egypt side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Egypt | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 118,365,995 | −45.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 365 | +17.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 3,086 | +113.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 71.8 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 1,001,450 | +21.7% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 118 | −55.1% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 24.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 74.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 6.8 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 14.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 42.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 2,396 | +18.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 0.67 | +4.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 2.93 | −28.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 20 | +116.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 836,000 | −89.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 7.1 | −80.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 2.76 | −85.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Egypt; a positive value favors South Africa. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: South Africa is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Egypt on 6. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020) (about 9.4×); they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Egypt's armed forces personnel (2020) (836,000) is about 9.4 times South Africa's (89,000).
- Egypt's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.76) is about 6.9 times South Africa's (0.40).
- Egypt's armed forces per 1,000 people (7.1) is about 5.1 times South Africa's (1.4).
- Egypt's population density (118) is about 2.2 times South Africa's (53).
- South Africa's military expenditure per capita (44) is about 2.2 times Egypt's (20).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and Egypt differ most?
Where are South Africa and Egypt most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of Egypt?
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 Egypt.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Egypt profile →
All statistics, series, and details.