Which has more people, Brazil or South Africa?

Brazil has a population of 213,562,666 (7th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

How do Brazil and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Brazil 76.0 (97th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. Brazil ranks better.

How do Brazil and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Brazil $23,433 (82nd of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. Brazil ranks better.

Where does Brazil beat South Africa most clearly?

Brazil ranks far ahead on LP Natural Environment (Legatum Prosperity Index): 18th vs 140th; Renewable Internal Freshwater Per Capita (Fresh water by Country): 27,015 m³ vs 728 m³; Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6 (Good Country Index by Country): 39th vs 156th.

Where does South Africa beat Brazil most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on EPI Recycling Score (Recycling Rates by Country): 28.2 vs 2.8; Parliamentary Representation of Women (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 44.7% vs 18.4%; Ecological Reserve or Deficit (Ecological Footprint by Country): -130.0% vs 234.0%.

Brazil vs South Africa

Brazil comes out ahead of South Africa on 377 of 632 statistics where one end is better, to 251 with 4 ties. Brazil leads on Environment, Infrastructure & Energy and Manufacturing & Mining and 7 more categories. South Africa leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Crime & Safety.

632 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 4 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Brazil

Wins: 377
Avg. percentile: 50
Categories led: 10

South Africa

Wins: 251
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 3

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	Brazil	South Africa
Population	213,562,666 7th of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	76.0 97th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$23,433 82nd of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	5.97% 109th of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	99.8% tied 125th of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	12.3 tied 96th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$10,713 80th of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EnvironmentBrazil · 46 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyBrazil · 37 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningBrazil · 3 statistics
Tech & BusinessBrazil · 21 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
EducationBrazil · 9 statistics
HealthBrazil · 207 statistics
PopulationBrazil · 19 statistics
EconomicsBrazil · 81 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
CultureBrazil · 72 statistics
LawBrazil · 8 statistics
Crime & SafetySouth Africa · 47 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.

Statistic	Brazil	South Africa
EPI Recycling ScoreRecycling Rates by Country	2.8 177th of 180	28.2 39th of 180
LP Natural EnvironmentLegatum Prosperity Index	18th 18th of 167	140th 140th of 167
Renewable Internal Freshwater Per CapitaFresh water by Country	27,015 m³ 24th of 181	728 m³ 145th of 181
Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country	39th 39th of 171	156th 153rd of 171
Parliamentary Representation of WomenMost Dangerous Countries for Women	18.4% tied 146th of 197	44.7% 16th of 197
Ecological Reserve or DeficitEcological Footprint by Country	234.0% 122nd of 126	-130.0% tied 38th of 126
Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country	55.13 per 10k 68th of 193	1.13 per 10k 193rd of 193
% of Population Given at Least 1 Dose COVID Vacc.COVID Vaccines by Country	87.0% tied 31st of 200	41.0% tied 159th of 200
COVID Vaccination RateCOVID Vaccines by Country	243 doses per 100k tied 31st of 200	70 doses per 100k 156th of 200
% of Population Who Completed Primary Series COVID Vacc.COVID Vaccines by Country	81.0% tied 40th of 200	35.0% tied 157th of 200
Male Tobacco UsersSmoking Rates by Country	15.0% tied 33rd of 167	38.9% 128th of 167
Forest Cover PercentageForest Cover by Country	59.0% 29th of 207	14.0% 146th of 207
Forest AreaTrees by Country	59.0% 29th of 209	14.0% 147th of 209
Median Fixed Broadband DL SpeedInternet Speeds by Country	219.78 Mbps 27th of 156	48.31 Mbps 114th of 156
Male Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	15.0% 42nd of 167	38.9% 135th of 167
Agricultural ScoreWater Stress by Country	1.3 49th of 143	4.6 128th of 143
Gonococcal Infection RateSTD Rates by Country	190 per 100k 86th of 201	1,534 per 100k 196th of 201
Stress Industrial ScoreWater Stress by Country	0.72 37th of 143	3.77 115th of 143
Happy Planet Index ScoreHappy Planet Index by Country	46.2 34th of 147	29.3 tied 113th of 147
Total ScoreWater Stress by Country	1.04 48th of 149	4.17 128th of 149
% of Urban Population with Access to ElectricityCountries without Electricity	100.0% tied 1st of 212	87.1% 180th of 212
CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.12 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 83rd of 198	0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 189th of 198
% of Population with Access to Basic WaterCountries Without Clean Water	100.0% tied 1st of 224	94.0% tied 143rd of 224
Personal Income TaxHighest Taxed Countries	27.5% tied 54th of 142	45.0% tied 123rd of 142
Water Scarcity RankingCountries with Water Scarcity	103rd 61st best of 163	22nd 22nd worst of 163
Water Stress RankWater Stress by Country	103rd 62nd best of 163	22nd 22nd worst of 163
Diabetes Deaths as % of All Deaths Up to Age 60Diabetes Rates by Country	2.8% tied 78th of 181	10.7% 168th of 181
DentistsDoctors per Capita by Country	7.85 /10k 34th of 193	1.07 /10k 127th of 193
Life ExpectancyPast Life Expectancy by Country	74.66 84th of 200	59.47 178th of 200
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	72 tied 78th of 155	100 8th of 155

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Brazil or South Africa?: Brazil comes out ahead of South Africa on 377 of 632 statistics where one end is better, to 251 with 4 ties. Brazil leads on Environment, Infrastructure & Energy and Manufacturing & Mining and 7 more categories. South Africa leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Brazil or South Africa?: Brazil has a population of 213,562,666 (7th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do Brazil and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Brazil 76.0 (97th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. Brazil ranks better.
How do Brazil and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Brazil $23,433 (82nd of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. Brazil ranks better.
Where does Brazil beat South Africa most clearly?: Brazil ranks far ahead on LP Natural Environment (Legatum Prosperity Index): 18th vs 140th; Renewable Internal Freshwater Per Capita (Fresh water by Country): 27,015 m³ vs 728 m³; Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6 (Good Country Index by Country): 39th vs 156th.
Where does South Africa beat Brazil most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on EPI Recycling Score (Recycling Rates by Country): 28.2 vs 2.8; Parliamentary Representation of Women (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 44.7% vs 18.4%; Ecological Reserve or Deficit (Ecological Footprint by Country): -130.0% vs 234.0%.

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