South Africa vs Turkey
Every indicator for South Africa and Turkey side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Africa | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 64,747,319 | 85,878,556 | −24.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 427 | 1,597 | −73.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,598 | 18,599 | −64.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 66.3 | 77.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,219,090 | 785,350 | +55.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 109 | −51.4% |
| Median age (years) | 28.0 | 34.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 78.4 | 89.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 32.4 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 34.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 63.8 | 89.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,836 | 24,979 | −88.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.70 | 1.92 | −63.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.11 | — | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 44 | 291 | −84.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 89,000 | 512,000 | −82.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.4 | 6.0 | −76.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 1.61 | −75.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Africa relative to Turkey; 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 24.6% lower than Turkey.
- On gdp (nominal), South Africa is 73.3% lower than Turkey.
- On gdp per capita, South Africa is 64.5% lower than Turkey.
South AfricaTurkey
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 Turkey.
South Africa profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Turkey profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI