Which has more people, Kenya or South Africa?

Kenya has a population of 58,636,412 (26th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Kenya 63.8 (195th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Kenya $7,016 (141st of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

Where does Kenya beat South Africa most clearly?

Kenya ranks far ahead on CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDP (CO₂ Emissions by Country): 0.07 tonnes/$1kGDP vs 0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP; Real GDP Growth (Fastest Growing Economies): 5.3% vs 0.1%; Nurses and Midwives (Nurse Vacancies by Country): 71.86 per 10k vs 1.13 per 10k.

Where does South Africa beat Kenya most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 57; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -62; Homophobic Climate Index Rank (UN) (Most Homophobic Countries): 137th vs 27th.

Kenya vs South Africa

South Africa comes out ahead of Kenya on 287 of 559 statistics where one end is better, to 266 with 6 ties. Kenya leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Law and Politics & Government and 4 more categories.

559 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.

Kenya

Wins: 266
Avg. percentile: 48
Categories led: 5

South Africa

Wins: 287
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 7

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	Kenya	South Africa
Population	58,636,412 26th of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	63.8 195th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$7,016 141st of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	5.45% 101st of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	77.0% 173rd of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	34.2 159th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$2,363 148th of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Tech & BusinessSouth Africa · 21 statistics
HealthKenya · 206 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
EducationSouth Africa · 10 statistics
Crime & SafetyKenya · 46 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningKenya · 3 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
EnvironmentKenya · 46 statistics
PopulationSouth Africa · 19 statistics
CultureSouth Africa · 71 statistics
EconomicsKenya · 81 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyEven · 37 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Kenya	South Africa
CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.07 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 21st of 198	0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 189th of 198
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	5.3% tied 28th of 189	0.1% 178th of 189
Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country	71.86 per 10k 44th of 193	1.13 per 10k 193rd of 193
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	57 tied 122nd of 155	100 8th of 155
GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country	5% tied 34th of 189	1.5% tied 170th of 189
LGBTQI+ Travel Safety IndexMost Homophobic Countries	-62 156th of 197	317 16th of 197
Homophobic Climate Index Rank (UN)Most Homophobic Countries	27th 27th worst of 157	137th 22nd best of 157
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.37 t/cap 28th of 206	7.19 t/cap 171st of 206
Death Rate Due to Cocaine Use Disorder (GBD)Most Cocaine Use by Country	0.01 tied 1st of 179	0.15 tied 139th of 179
Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by Country	269 per 100k 19th of 204	826 per 100k 158th of 204
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	15.8% 40th of 196	47.6% 173rd of 196
Opioid Use RateDrug Use by Country	49.32 per 100k 8th of 204	149.22 per 100k 143rd of 204
GDP Growth WBGDP Growth by Country	5.6% 30th of 190	0.7% tied 153rd of 190
CO2 Emissions per Person (Tonnes)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	0.38 36th of 203	6.88 168th of 203
Male Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	13.1% 30th of 167	38.9% 135th of 167
Total ScoreWater Stress by Country	0.79 36th of 149	4.17 128th of 149
Total Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	7.1% 19th of 167	23.6% 122nd of 167
Agricultural ScoreWater Stress by Country	0.99 40th of 143	4.6 128th of 143
Climate ChangeGreenest (Most Eco-Friendly) Countries	26.5 162nd of 179	48.0 52nd of 179
Other Drug Use RateDrug Use by Country	6.26 per 100k 9th of 202	17.39 per 100k 133rd of 202
Women’s Employment 2011 to 2016Most Dangerous Countries for Women	69.0% 32nd of 169	42.6% 134th of 169
Women’s Employment 2018 to 2022Most Dangerous Countries for Women	75.3% 37th of 188	46.0% 150th of 188
Mean BMIEuropean Obesity Rates by Country	23.3 kg/m² tied 35th of 190	27.3 kg/m² tied 147th of 190
Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo)Cost of Living by Country	35.1 tied 104th of 136	111.2 24th of 136
Amphetamine Use RateDrug Use by Country	38.73 per 100k tied 50th of 204	162.89 per 100k 170th of 204
Crude Death Rate Per 1k - UN 2015-2020Death Rate by Country	5.5 tied 39th of 197	9.5 tied 155th of 197
Labor Force ParticipationLabor Force Participation Rate by Country	74.4% 15th of 186	58.0% tied 122nd of 186
% Overweight (Age < 5)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	4.3% tied 53rd of 163	12.8% 148th of 163
Cocaine Use Disorder Rate (GBD)Most Cocaine Use by Country	4.51 per 100k tied 52nd of 203	117.79 per 100k 169th of 203
Water Scarcity RankingCountries with Water Scarcity	115th 49th best of 163	22nd 22nd worst of 163

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, Kenya or South Africa?: South Africa comes out ahead of Kenya on 287 of 559 statistics where one end is better, to 266 with 6 ties. Kenya leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Law and Politics & Government and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Kenya or South Africa?: Kenya has a population of 58,636,412 (26th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do Kenya and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Kenya 63.8 (195th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
How do Kenya and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Kenya $7,016 (141st of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
Where does Kenya beat South Africa most clearly?: Kenya ranks far ahead on CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDP (CO₂ Emissions by Country): 0.07 tonnes/$1kGDP vs 0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP; Real GDP Growth (Fastest Growing Economies): 5.3% vs 0.1%; Nurses and Midwives (Nurse Vacancies by Country): 71.86 per 10k vs 1.13 per 10k.
Where does South Africa beat Kenya most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 57; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -62; Homophobic Climate Index Rank (UN) (Most Homophobic Countries): 137th vs 27th.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Kenya or South Africa.

All countries matchups