Which has more people, China or South Africa?

China has a population of 1,412,914,089 (2nd of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): China 78.0 (68th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. China ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): China $29,333 (70th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. China ranks better.

Where does China beat South Africa most clearly?

China ranks far ahead on Community Safety 2022 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 93.0% vs 25.0%; Gini Coefficient - Income (Gini Coefficient by Country): 26.0 vs 63.0; Misery Index (Worst Countries to Live in): 8.7 vs 79.

Where does South Africa beat China most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 27.5%; Press Freedom Index Score (RSF) (Freedom Index by Country): 75.71 vs 14.8; Pct Stomach Cancer Risk at 74 (Stomach Cancer Rates by Country): 0.4% vs 1.7%.

China vs South Africa

China comes out ahead of South Africa on 377 of 577 statistics where one end is better, to 195 with 5 ties. China leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Tech & Business and Education and 7 more categories. South Africa leads on Politics & Government, Law and Travel.

577 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 5 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

China

Wins: 377
Avg. percentile: 54
Categories led: 10

South Africa

Wins: 195
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 3

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	China	South Africa
Population	1,412,914,089 2nd of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	78.0 68th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$29,333 70th of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	4.62% 76th of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	100.0% tied 1st of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	4.1 tied 39th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$13,862 72nd of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Manufacturing & MiningChina · 3 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 38 statistics
Tech & BusinessChina · 21 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
EducationChina · 10 statistics
Crime & SafetyChina · 42 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyChina · 37 statistics
PopulationChina · 18 statistics
HealthChina · 202 statistics
EconomicsChina · 78 statistics
EnvironmentChina · 44 statistics
CultureChina · 72 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	China	South Africa
Community Safety 2022 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	93.0% tied 2nd of 198	25.0% tied 196th of 198
Gini Coefficient - IncomeGini Coefficient by Country	26.0 8th of 172	63.0 172nd of 172
Misery IndexWorst Countries to Live in	8.7 tied 14th of 178	79 172nd of 178
Crime Index Numbeo (1-100)Crime Rate by Country	24.0 14th of 144	74.7 140th of 144
Safety Index Numbeo (100-1)Crime Rate by Country	76.0 14th of 144	25.3 140th of 144
Homicides RateGun Violence by Country	0.01 per 100k tied 1st of 204	7.99 per 100k 179th of 204
Rate of Violent Gun Death IHMEGun Deaths by Country	0.01 per 100k tied 1st of 204	7.99 per 100k 179th of 204
% of Population at High Flood RiskFlooding by Country	27.5% 165th of 185	6.1% tied 6th of 185
STD Rate FemaleSTD Rates by Country	13,884 per 100k 31st of 201	50,118 per 100k 201st of 201
Press Freedom Index Score (RSF)Freedom Index by Country	14.8 174th of 176	75.71 27th of 176
Total STD RateSTD Rates by Country	11,009 per 100k 33rd of 201	39,598 per 100k 200th of 201
Gini Coefficient - WealthWealth Inequality by Country	70.1% 25th of 171	88.6% tied 165th of 171
HIV Rates FemaleHIV Rates by Country	19.02 per 100k 35th of 201	19,657 per 100k 199th of 201
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	8.66% 15th of 196	47.6% 173rd of 196
Average IQ (Lynn/Becker)Average IQ by Country	104.1 5th of 197	68.87 tied 162nd of 197
HIV RateHIV Rates by Country	38.29 per 100k 40th of 201	15,778 per 100k 199th of 201
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	5.2% tied 30th of 189	0.1% 178th of 189
STD Rate MaleSTD Rates by Country	8,266 per 100k 42nd of 201	28,466 per 100k 198th of 201
Vacc. Rate BCGVaccination Rates by Country	99.0% tied 1st of 153	74.0% tied 137th of 153
HIV Rates MaleHIV Rates by Country	56.67 per 100k 43rd of 201	11,673 per 100k 198th of 201
Rate of Stabbing DeathsStabbing Deaths by Country	0.04 per 100k tied 42nd of 202	1.81 per 100k 202nd of 202
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	6.8% 15th of 199	41.0% tied 165th of 199
Pct Stomach Cancer Risk at 74Stomach Cancer Rates by Country	1.7% tied 171st of 184	0.4% tied 35th of 184
Legatum Prosperity Index Health RankingsLegatum Prosperity Index	5th 5th of 167	129th 129th of 167
LPI Health ScoreBest Healthcare in the World	83.11 5th of 167	59.9 129th of 167
LP Personal FreedomLegatum Prosperity Index	162nd 162nd of 167	38th 38th of 167
V-Dem EDI ScoreV Dem Democracy Index by Country	0.07 tied 171st of 175	0.74 tied 40th of 175
SafetySocial Progress Index by Country	81.96 38th of 172	45.2 164th of 172
V-Dem LDI ScoreV Dem Democracy Index by Country	0.039 163rd of 171	0.633 38th of 171
V-Dem DCI ScoreV Dem Democracy Index by Country	0.23 149th of 175	0.9 tied 18th of 175

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, China or South Africa?: China comes out ahead of South Africa on 377 of 577 statistics where one end is better, to 195 with 5 ties. China leads on Manufacturing & Mining, Tech & Business and Education and 7 more categories. South Africa leads on Politics & Government, Law and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, China or South Africa?: China has a population of 1,412,914,089 (2nd of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do China and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): China 78.0 (68th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. China ranks better.
How do China and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): China $29,333 (70th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. China ranks better.
Where does China beat South Africa most clearly?: China ranks far ahead on Community Safety 2022 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 93.0% vs 25.0%; Gini Coefficient - Income (Gini Coefficient by Country): 26.0 vs 63.0; Misery Index (Worst Countries to Live in): 8.7 vs 79.
Where does South Africa beat China most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 27.5%; Press Freedom Index Score (RSF) (Freedom Index by Country): 75.71 vs 14.8; Pct Stomach Cancer Risk at 74 (Stomach Cancer Rates by Country): 0.4% vs 1.7%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with China or South Africa.

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