Which has more people, Nigeria or South Africa?

Nigeria has a population of 242,431,832 (6th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Nigeria 54.6 (215th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Nigeria $9,532 (128th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

Where does Nigeria beat South Africa most clearly?

Nigeria ranks far ahead on % Overweight (Age < 5) (Childhood Obesity Rates by Country): 1.6% vs 12.8%; Drought Risk Score (Statista) (Droughts by Country): 1.2 vs 4.44; Women’s Employment 2020 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 87.9% vs 45.0%.

Where does South Africa beat Nigeria most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on Out-of-Pocket % of Health Expenditure (Medical Bankruptcies by Country): 6.71% vs 76.1%; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -190; % of GDP per Year Spent on Education (Education Spending by Country): 6.12% vs 0.32%.

Nigeria vs South Africa

Q: Which is better, Nigeria or South Africa?

South Africa comes out ahead of Nigeria on 285 of 541 statistics where one end is better, to 251 with 5 ties. Nigeria leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Environment. South Africa leads on Education, Tech & Business and Politics & Government and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Q: Where does South Africa beat Nigeria most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on Out-of-Pocket % of Health Expenditure (Medical Bankruptcies by Country): 6.71% vs 76.1%; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -190; % of GDP per Year Spent on Education (Education Spending by Country): 6.12% vs 0.32%.

South Africa comes out ahead of Nigeria on 285 of 541 statistics where one end is better, to 251 with 5 ties. Nigeria leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Environment. South Africa leads on Education, Tech & Business and Politics & Government and 7 more categories.

541 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.

Nigeria

Wins: 251
Avg. percentile: 44
Categories led: 3

South Africa

Wins: 285
Avg. percentile: 42
Categories led: 10

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	Nigeria	South Africa
Population	242,431,832 6th of 235	65,453,084 24th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	54.6 215th of 215	66.3 181st of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$9,532 128th of 184	$15,906 108th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	3.06% 44th of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	62.5% 182nd of 214	90.2% 160th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	69.8 194th of 195	24.2 138th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$1,224 165th of 185	$6,598 103rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EducationSouth Africa · 10 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Africa · 20 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
PopulationSouth Africa · 18 statistics
HealthNigeria · 204 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
Crime & SafetyNigeria · 46 statistics
CultureSouth Africa · 71 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Africa · 37 statistics
EnvironmentNigeria · 46 statistics
EconomicsSouth Africa · 79 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningSouth Africa · 3 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Nigeria	South Africa
Out-of-Pocket % of Health ExpenditureMedical Bankruptcies by Country	76.1% 186th of 189	6.71% 10th of 189
LGBTQI+ Travel Safety IndexMost Homophobic Countries	-190 195th of 197	317 16th of 197
% of GDP per Year Spent on EducationEducation Spending by Country	0.32% 118th of 118	6.12% 12th of 118
Parliamentary Representation of WomenMost Dangerous Countries for Women	3.6% 191st of 197	44.7% 16th of 197
% Overweight (Age < 5)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	1.6% tied 5th of 163	12.8% 148th of 163
Drought Risk Score (Statista)Droughts by Country	1.2 tied 11th of 157	4.44 tied 152nd of 157
Homophobic Climate Index Rank (UN)Most Homophobic Countries	6th 6th worst of 157	137th 22nd best of 157
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	55 tied 133rd of 155	100 8th of 155
Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo)Cost of Living by Country	10.6 133rd of 136	111.2 24th of 136
Women’s Employment 2020 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	87.9% 5th of 198	45.0% 163rd of 198
Male Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	5.6% 2nd of 167	38.9% 135th of 167
Male Suicide RateSuicide Rate by Country	4.51 per 100k 20th of 204	25.68 per 100k 180th of 204
Unemployment Rate - CIAUnemployment by Country	3% tied 38th of 184	33.2% 183rd of 184
Suicide RateSuicide Rate by Country	3.07 per 100k tied 19th of 204	15.49 per 100k 178th of 204
Mortality (Deaths) - MaleCancer Rates by Country	324 24th of 183	58,934 165th of 183
Patent Grants (Total) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	10 159th of 169	42,811 29th of 169
Amphetamine Use RateDrug Use by Country	31.92 per 100k 13th of 204	162.89 per 100k 170th of 204
Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by Country	199 per 100k 2nd of 204	826 per 100k 158th of 204
Male Tobacco UsersSmoking Rates by Country	5.6% 1st of 167	38.9% 128th of 167
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	3.06% 44th of 181	32.4% 180th of 181
EPI Recycling ScoreRecycling Rates by Country	4.7 171st of 180	28.2 39th of 180
Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	10 tied 141st of 158	26,253 27th of 158
Prisoners per 100k PopulationMost Strict Countries in the World	33 tied 8th of 219	260 168th of 219
Total Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	2.9% 2nd of 167	23.6% 122nd of 167
Mortality, Male - ASRCancer Rates by Country	68.4 per 100k tied 30th of 183	146.3 per 100k 161st of 183
Cannabis Use RateDrug Use by Country	108.92 per 100k 4th of 204	372.78 per 100k 148th of 204
Lung Cancer Mortality, ASR (Males)Lung Cancer Rates by Country	1.8 per 100k tied 1st of 184	25.5 per 100k 130th of 184
Mortality, All - Crude RateCancer Rates by Country	74.6 per 100k tied 42nd of 182	122.5 per 100k 169th of 182
Stress Industrial ScoreWater Stress by Country	0.24 tied 16th of 143	3.77 115th of 143
Opioid Use RateDrug Use by Country	46.53 per 100k 3rd of 204	149.22 per 100k 143rd 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, Nigeria or South Africa?: South Africa comes out ahead of Nigeria on 285 of 541 statistics where one end is better, to 251 with 5 ties. Nigeria leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Environment. South Africa leads on Education, Tech & Business and Politics & Government and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Nigeria or South Africa?: Nigeria has a population of 242,431,832 (6th of 235 countries) and South Africa has 65,453,084 (24th of 235).
How do Nigeria and South Africa compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Nigeria 54.6 (215th of 215), South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
How do Nigeria and South Africa compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Nigeria $9,532 (128th of 184), South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
Where does Nigeria beat South Africa most clearly?: Nigeria ranks far ahead on % Overweight (Age < 5) (Childhood Obesity Rates by Country): 1.6% vs 12.8%; Drought Risk Score (Statista) (Droughts by Country): 1.2 vs 4.44; Women’s Employment 2020 to 2024 (Most Dangerous Countries for Women): 87.9% vs 45.0%.
Where does South Africa beat Nigeria most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on Out-of-Pocket % of Health Expenditure (Medical Bankruptcies by Country): 6.71% vs 76.1%; LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -190; % of GDP per Year Spent on Education (Education Spending by Country): 6.12% vs 0.32%.

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