Which has more people, India or South Africa?

India has a population of 1,476,625,576 (1st of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): India 72.2 (135th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. India ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): India $11,748 (123rd of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

Where does India beat South Africa most clearly?

India ranks far ahead on STD Rate Female (STD Rates by Country): 9,044 per 100k vs 50,118 per 100k; Total STD Rate (STD Rates by Country): 7,858 per 100k vs 39,598 per 100k; Gini Coefficient - Income (Gini Coefficient by Country): 25.5 vs 63.0.

Where does South Africa beat India most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 27.7%; Out-of-Pocket % of Health Expenditure (Medical Bankruptcies by Country): 6.71% vs 46.0%; Parliamentary Representation of Women (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 44.7% vs 14.7%.

India vs South Africa

India comes out ahead of South Africa on 355 of 617 statistics where one end is better, to 257 with 5 ties. India leads on Health, Manufacturing & Mining and Tech & Business and 3 more categories. South Africa leads on Law, Politics & Government and Population and 4 more categories.

617 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.

India

Wins: 355
Avg. percentile: 51
Categories led: 6

South Africa

Wins: 257
Avg. percentile: 44
Categories led: 7

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	India	South Africa
Population	1,476,625,576 1st of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	72.2 135th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$11,748 123rd of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	4.22% 71st of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	99.9% tied 122nd of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	23.3 135th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$2,702 143rd of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

HealthIndia · 206 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningIndia · 3 statistics
Tech & BusinessIndia · 21 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
Crime & SafetyIndia · 43 statistics
PopulationSouth Africa · 19 statistics
EconomicsIndia · 80 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Africa · 46 statistics
EducationSouth Africa · 9 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
CultureIndia · 71 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Africa · 37 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	India	South Africa
STD Rate FemaleSTD Rates by Country	9,044 per 100k 2nd of 201	50,118 per 100k 201st of 201
Total STD RateSTD Rates by Country	7,858 per 100k 3rd of 201	39,598 per 100k 200th of 201
Gini Coefficient - IncomeGini Coefficient by Country	25.5 4th of 172	63.0 172nd of 172
STD Rate MaleSTD Rates by Country	6,723 per 100k 14th of 201	28,466 per 100k 198th of 201
% of Population at High Flood RiskFlooding by Country	27.7% 167th of 185	6.1% tied 6th of 185
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	5.9% 16th of 189	0.1% 178th of 189
GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country	6.5% tied 13th of 189	1.5% tied 170th of 189
Mortality, All - Crude RateCancer Rates by Country	64.4 per 100k tied 20th of 182	122.5 per 100k 169th of 182
Amphetamine Use RateDrug Use by Country	12.94 per 100k 5th of 204	162.89 per 100k 170th of 204
Mortality, Female - ASRCancer Rates by Country	62.6 per 100k 25th of 183	110.6 per 100k tied 169th of 183
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	10.3% 19th of 196	47.6% 173rd of 196
GDP Growth WBGDP Growth by Country	8.2% tied 8th of 190	0.7% tied 153rd of 190
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	6.3% tied 12th of 199	41.0% tied 165th of 199
Out-of-Pocket % of Health ExpenditureMedical Bankruptcies by Country	46.0% 154th of 189	6.71% 10th of 189
GDP Growth (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	7.57% 13th of 185	1.11% 153rd of 185
Parliamentary Representation of WomenMost Dangerous Countries for Women	14.7% 163rd of 197	44.7% 16th of 197
Mortality, Male - ASRCancer Rates by Country	66.5 per 100k tied 24th of 183	146.3 per 100k 161st of 183
Mean BMIEuropean Obesity Rates by Country	21.8 kg/m² tied 7th of 190	27.3 kg/m² tied 147th of 190
New HIV Infection RateHIV Rates by Country	0.1 per 1k tied 4th of 128	3.1 per 1k 127th of 128
Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country	66.04 per 10k 50th of 193	1.13 per 10k 193rd of 193
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	58 tied 120th of 155	100 8th of 155
Prisoners per 100k PopulationMost Strict Countries in the World	37 tied 11th of 219	260 168th of 219
Community Safety 2022 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	68.0% tied 56th of 198	25.0% tied 196th of 198
% Risk of Prostate Cancer at 74Prostate Cancer Rates by Country	0.67% tied 11th of 185	7.4% tied 137th of 185
Prostate Cancer Age-Standardized RateProstate Cancer Rates by Country	5.6 per 100k 12th of 185	62.0 per 100k 139th of 185
Press Freedom Index Score (RSF)Freedom Index by Country	32.96 147th of 176	75.71 27th of 176
Non-Melanoma New Case Rate - FemaleFemale Skin Cancer Rates by Country	1.96 per 100k 3rd of 204	28.39 per 100k 141st of 204
% Overweight (Age < 5)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	3.7% tied 36th of 163	12.8% 148th of 163
Cocaine Use RateDrug Use by Country	5.01 per 100k 34th of 204	127.7 per 100k 168th of 204
Non-Melanoma New Case Rate - AllSkin Cancer Rates by Country	1.83 per 100k 4th of 204	25.19 per 100k 138th of 204

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, India or South Africa?: India comes out ahead of South Africa on 355 of 617 statistics where one end is better, to 257 with 5 ties. India leads on Health, Manufacturing & Mining and Tech & Business and 3 more categories. South Africa leads on Law, Politics & Government and Population and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, India or South Africa?: India has a population of 1,476,625,576 (1st of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do India and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): India 72.2 (135th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. India ranks better.
How do India and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): India $11,748 (123rd of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
Where does India beat South Africa most clearly?: India ranks far ahead on STD Rate Female (STD Rates by Country): 9,044 per 100k vs 50,118 per 100k; Total STD Rate (STD Rates by Country): 7,858 per 100k vs 39,598 per 100k; Gini Coefficient - Income (Gini Coefficient by Country): 25.5 vs 63.0.
Where does South Africa beat India most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 27.7%; Out-of-Pocket % of Health Expenditure (Medical Bankruptcies by Country): 6.71% vs 46.0%; Parliamentary Representation of Women (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 44.7% vs 14.7%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with India or South Africa.

All countries matchups