Which has more people, Ethiopia or South Africa?

Ethiopia has a population of 138,902,185 (10th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Ethiopia 67.6 (168th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. Ethiopia ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Ethiopia $3,622 (166th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

Where does Ethiopia beat South Africa most clearly?

Ethiopia ranks far ahead on CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDP (CO₂ Emissions by Country): 0.05 tonnes/$1kGDP vs 0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP; Nurses and Midwives (Nurse Vacancies by Country): 111.8 per 10k vs 1.13 per 10k; Real GDP Growth (Fastest Growing Economies): 6.1% vs 0.1%.

Where does South Africa beat Ethiopia most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on Head of Government Annual Salary (What Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?): $223,500 vs $3,600; Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo) (Cost of Living by Country): 111.2 vs 13.3; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -83.

Ethiopia vs South Africa

South Africa comes out ahead of Ethiopia on 256 of 499 statistics where one end is better, to 237 with 6 ties. Ethiopia leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Environment and 1 more category. South Africa leads on Politics & Government, Tech & Business and Travel and 6 more categories.

499 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 6 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Ethiopia

Wins: 237
Avg. percentile: 42
Categories led: 4

South Africa

Wins: 256
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 9

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	Ethiopia	South Africa
Population	138,902,185 10th of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	67.6 168th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$3,622 166th of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	3.32% 53rd of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	56.6% 189th of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	34.5 160th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$933 174th of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Africa · 21 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
EducationSouth Africa · 10 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 6 statistics
PopulationSouth Africa · 19 statistics
HealthEthiopia · 205 statistics
CultureSouth Africa · 71 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Africa · 37 statistics
Crime & SafetyEthiopia · 45 statistics
EnvironmentEthiopia · 46 statistics
EconomicsSouth Africa · 79 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningEthiopia · 3 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Ethiopia	South Africa
CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.05 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 5th of 198	0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 189th of 198
Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country	111.8 per 10k 20th of 193	1.13 per 10k 193rd of 193
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	6.1% tied 11th of 189	0.1% 178th of 189
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	3.87% 3rd of 196	47.6% 173rd of 196
Head of Government Annual SalaryWhat Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?	$3,600 156th of 158	$223,500 20th of 158
Mortality, Male - ASRCancer Rates by Country	56.5 per 100k 7th of 183	146.3 per 100k 161st of 183
GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country	6.5% tied 13th of 189	1.5% tied 170th of 189
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	1.5% 2nd of 199	41.0% tied 165th of 199
GDP Growth (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	9.77% 5th of 185	1.11% 153rd of 185
Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo)Cost of Living by Country	13.3 tied 131st of 136	111.2 24th of 136
Male Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	6.1% 3rd of 167	38.9% 135th of 167
LGBTQI+ Travel Safety IndexMost Homophobic Countries	-83 tied 170th of 197	317 16th of 197
Mean BMIEuropean Obesity Rates by Country	20.6 kg/m² 1st of 190	27.3 kg/m² tied 147th of 190
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.16 t/cap tied 10th of 206	7.19 t/cap 171st of 206
Out-of-Pocket % of Health ExpenditureMedical Bankruptcies by Country	44.6% 151st of 189	6.71% 10th of 189
Gini Coefficient - IncomeGini Coefficient by Country	31.1 44th of 172	63.0 172nd of 172
New HIV Infection RateHIV Rates by Country	0.1 per 1k tied 4th of 128	3.1 per 1k 127th of 128
CO2 Emissions per Person (Tonnes)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	0.15 17th of 203	6.88 168th of 203
Gini Coefficient - WealthWealth Inequality by Country	72.3% 39th of 171	88.6% tied 165th of 171
Male Tobacco UsersSmoking Rates by Country	8.8% 5th of 167	38.9% 128th of 167
Male ParticipationLabor Force Participation Rate by Country	86.1% 7th of 186	64.7% 143rd of 186
% Overweight (Age < 5)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	3.3% tied 28th of 163	12.8% 148th of 163
GDP Growth WBGDP Growth by Country	6.5% tied 18th of 190	0.7% tied 153rd of 190
Total Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	3.5% 3rd of 167	23.6% 122nd of 167
Mortality, All - Crude RateCancer Rates by Country	74.5 per 100k 41st of 182	122.5 per 100k 169th of 182
Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	12 138th of 158	26,253 27th of 158
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	3.32% 53rd of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Patent Grants (Total) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	31 tied 147th of 169	42,811 29th of 169
Unemployment Rate - CIAUnemployment by Country	3.4% tied 53rd of 184	33.2% 183rd of 184
Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	2.53% 2nd of 199	31.3% 141st of 199

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, Ethiopia or South Africa?: South Africa comes out ahead of Ethiopia on 256 of 499 statistics where one end is better, to 237 with 6 ties. Ethiopia leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Environment and 1 more category. South Africa leads on Politics & Government, Tech & Business and Travel and 6 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Ethiopia or South Africa?: Ethiopia has a population of 138,902,185 (10th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do Ethiopia and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Ethiopia 67.6 (168th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. Ethiopia ranks better.
How do Ethiopia and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Ethiopia $3,622 (166th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
Where does Ethiopia beat South Africa most clearly?: Ethiopia ranks far ahead on CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDP (CO₂ Emissions by Country): 0.05 tonnes/$1kGDP vs 0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP; Nurses and Midwives (Nurse Vacancies by Country): 111.8 per 10k vs 1.13 per 10k; Real GDP Growth (Fastest Growing Economies): 6.1% vs 0.1%.
Where does South Africa beat Ethiopia most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on Head of Government Annual Salary (What Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?): $223,500 vs $3,600; Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo) (Cost of Living by Country): 111.2 vs 13.3; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -83.

More matchups

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