Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia comes out ahead of South Africa on 248 of 479 statistics where one end is better, to 216 with 15 ties. Namibia leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Education and Infrastructure & Energy and 4 more categories.
479 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 248
- Avg. percentile
- 44
- Categories led
- 5
- Wins
- 216
- Avg. percentile
- 42
- Categories led
- 7
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.
| Statistic | Namibia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,153,246 137th of 235 | 65,453,084 24th of 235 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 67.5 170th of 215 | 66.3 181st of 215 |
| GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $11,986 122nd of 184 | $15,906 108th of 184 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 19.3% 175th of 181 | 32.4% 180th of 181 |
| Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 59.3% 187th of 214 | 90.2% 160th of 214 |
| Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 36.4 166th of 195 | 24.2 138th of 195 |
| GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $4,876 119th of 185 | $6,598 103rd of 185 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Tech & BusinessSouth Africa · 20 statistics
- EducationSouth Africa · 9 statistics
- Crime & SafetyNamibia · 46 statistics
- HealthNamibia · 197 statistics
- Manufacturing & MiningNamibia · 3 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Africa · 37 statistics
- PopulationSouth Africa · 19 statistics
- LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
- CultureSouth Africa · 72 statistics
- TravelNamibia · 10 statistics
- EnvironmentNamibia · 43 statistics
- EconomicsEven · 79 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.
| Statistic | Namibia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Criminality Score (GOCI)Crime Rate by Country | 4.4 61st of 192 | 7.4 186th of 192 |
| Patent Grants (Total) 1980-2022Inventions by Country | 96 133rd of 169 | 42,811 29th of 169 |
| GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country | 4.2% tied 56th of 189 | 1.5% tied 170th of 189 |
| % of Population at High Flood RiskFlooding by Country | 17.3% tied 115th of 185 | 6.1% tied 6th of 185 |
| Criminal Actors Score (GOCI)Crime Rate by Country | 4.7 tied 69th of 192 | 7.7 183rd of 192 |
| Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country | 13.2% 51st of 199 | 41.0% tied 165th of 199 |
| Patent Grants (Abroad) 1980-2022Inventions by Country | 53 tied 135th of 192 | 16,588 28th of 192 |
| Climate ChangeGreenest (Most Eco-Friendly) Countries | 30.3 150th of 179 | 48.0 52nd of 179 |
| Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022Inventions by Country | 68 tied 112th of 158 | 26,253 27th of 158 |
| Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country | 8.4% 24th of 173 | 26.2% tied 116th of 173 |
| Chlamydial Infection RateSTD Rates by Country | 3,198 per 100k 176th of 201 | 1,569 per 100k 70th of 201 |
| Death Rate Due to Cocaine Use Disorder (GBD)Most Cocaine Use by Country | 0.02 tied 32nd of 179 | 0.15 tied 139th of 179 |
| Patent Grants AbroadInventions by Country | 4 tied 111th of 149 | 461 35th of 149 |
| CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country | 0.12 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 83rd of 198 | 0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 189th of 198 |
| CO₂ Emissions per CapitaCO₂ Emissions by Country | 1.25 t/cap 65th of 206 | 7.19 t/cap 171st of 206 |
| Criminal Networks Index (OCI)What Country Has the Most Gangs | 5.5 tied 75th of 193 | 8 tied 174th of 193 |
| Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country | 23.5% 74th of 196 | 47.6% 173rd of 196 |
| Mean BMIEuropean Obesity Rates by Country | 24.2 kg/m² 55th of 190 | 27.3 kg/m² tied 147th of 190 |
| CO2 Emissions per Person (Tonnes)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 1.2 69th of 203 | 6.88 168th of 203 |
| GDP Growth WBGDP Growth by Country | 4.2% tied 61st of 190 | 0.7% tied 153rd of 190 |
| Mortality (Deaths) - MaleCancer Rates by Country | 3,364 76th of 183 | 58,934 165th of 183 |
| Drought Risk Score (Aqueduct)Droughts by Country | 1.517 10th of 138 | 2.759 75th of 138 |
| Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country | 73rd 73rd of 171 | 156th 153rd of 171 |
| Pct Starv. Rate Change vs Prev. YearStarvation Deaths by Country | -6.48% tied 14th of 202 | -1.11% 108th of 202 |
| Mismanaged Waste IndexPlastic Pollution by Country | 94.1% 204th of 214 | 59.4% 107th of 214 |
| Global Innovation Index Knowledge & Technology Outputs RankMost Innovative Countries | 122nd 121st of 132 | 63rd 63rd of 132 |
| Starvation Rate Change vs Prev. YearStarvation Deaths by Country | -0.5 ASR per 100K pop. 6th of 170 | -0.04 ASR per 100K pop. tied 76th of 170 |
| Percentile RankPolitical Stability by Country | 63.5 77th of 209 | 20.9 166th of 209 |
| LP Safety & SecurityLegatum Prosperity Index | 65th 65th of 167 | 136th 136th of 167 |
| % w/ DepressionDepression Rates by Country | 3% 24th of 184 | 4% 102nd of 184 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Namibia or South Africa?
- Namibia comes out ahead of South Africa on 248 of 479 statistics where one end is better, to 216 with 15 ties. Namibia leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Education and Infrastructure & Energy and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Namibia or South Africa?
- Namibia has a population of 3,153,246 (137th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
- How do Namibia and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?
- Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Namibia 67.5 (170th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. Namibia ranks better.
- How do Namibia and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?
- GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Namibia $11,986 (122nd of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
- Where does Namibia beat South Africa most clearly?
- Namibia ranks far ahead on Overall Criminality Score (GOCI) (Crime Rate by Country): 4.4 vs 7.4; GDP Growth IMF (GDP Growth by Country): 4.2% vs 1.5%; Criminal Actors Score (GOCI) (Crime Rate by Country): 4.7 vs 7.7.
- Where does South Africa beat Namibia most clearly?
- South Africa ranks far ahead on Patent Grants (Total) 1980-2022 (Inventions by Country): 42,811 vs 96; % of Population at High Flood Risk (Flooding by Country): 6.1% vs 17.3%; Patent Grants (Abroad) 1980-2022 (Inventions by Country): 16,588 vs 53.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Namibia or South Africa.