South Africa vs Russia
Every indicator for South Africa and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 143,513,328 | −54.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 2,561 | −83.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 17,547 | −62.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 17,125,190 | −92.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 8 | +533.8% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 148,967 | −98.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 7.05 | −90.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | 18.90 | −88.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 1,038 | −95.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 1,454,000 | −93.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 10.1 | −86.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 1.98 | −79.8% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Russia; 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 54.9% lower than Russia.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 83.3% lower than Russia.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 62.4% lower than Russia.
South AfricaRussia
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 Russia.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI