South Africa vs Nigeria
Every indicator for South Africa and Nigeria side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Nigeria | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 237,527,782 | −72.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 291 | +46.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 1,224 | +439.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 54.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 923,770 | +32.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 257 | −79.3% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 17.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 41.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 3.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 23.0 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 1,133 | +150.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 0.56 | +25.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 3.07 | −31.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 5 | +818.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 223,000 | −60.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 0.9 | +46.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.23 | +73.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Nigeria; 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 8 of the 12 indicators, while Nigeria leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 9.2 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- South Africa's military expenditure per capita (44) is about 9.2 times Nigeria's (5).
- South Africa's gdp per capita (6,598) is about 5.4 times Nigeria's (1,224).
- Nigeria's population density (257) is about 4.8 times South Africa's (53).
- Nigeria's population (2025) (237,527,782) is about 3.7 times South Africa's (64,747,319).
- Nigeria's armed forces personnel (2020) (223,000) is about 2.5 times South Africa's (89,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Africa and Nigeria differ most?
Where are South Africa and Nigeria most alike?
On how many indicators is South Africa ahead of Nigeria?
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 Nigeria.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Nigeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.