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.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Africa is 72.7% lower than Nigeria.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 46.7% higher than Nigeria.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 439.1% higher than Nigeria.
South AfricaNigeria
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.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI