Which has more people, South Africa or Tanzania?

South Africa has a population of 65,453,084 (24th of 235 countries) and Tanzania has 72,563,780 (20th of 235).

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

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215), Tanzania 67.2 (174th of 215) among countries. Tanzania ranks better.

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

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184), Tanzania $4,471 (158th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.

Where does South Africa beat Tanzania most clearly?

South Africa ranks far ahead on LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -120; Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022 (Inventions by Country): 26,253 vs 5; Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 57.

Where does Tanzania beat South Africa most clearly?

Tanzania ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)): 1.57% vs 32.4%; Unemployment Rate - ILO (Unemployment by Country): 2.8% vs 28.8%; Unemployment Rate - CIA (Unemployment by Country): 2.6% vs 33.2%.

South Africa vs Tanzania

Tanzania comes out ahead of South Africa on 251 of 486 statistics where one end is better, to 229 with 6 ties. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Education and Politics & Government and 5 more categories. Tanzania leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Environment and 2 more categories.

486 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.

South Africa

Wins: 229
Avg. percentile: 41
Categories led: 8

Tanzania

Wins: 251
Avg. percentile: 45
Categories led: 5

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	South Africa	Tanzania
Population	65,453,084 24th of 235	72,563,780 20th of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	66.3 181st of 215	67.2 174th of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$15,906 108th of 184	$4,471 158th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	32.4% 180th of 181	1.57% 12th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	90.2% 160th of 214	52.4% 198th of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	24.2 138th of 195	28.7 146th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$6,598 103rd of 185	$1,319 163rd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Tech & BusinessSouth Africa · 20 statistics
EducationSouth Africa · 10 statistics
Crime & SafetyTanzania · 44 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Africa · 40 statistics
HealthTanzania · 201 statistics
PopulationSouth Africa · 19 statistics
LawSouth Africa · 8 statistics
CultureSouth Africa · 71 statistics
TravelSouth Africa · 10 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Africa · 37 statistics
EnvironmentTanzania · 46 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningTanzania · 3 statistics
EconomicsTanzania · 81 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	South Africa	Tanzania
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	32.4% 180th of 181	1.57% 12th of 181
Unemployment Rate - ILOUnemployment by Country	28.8% 154th of 155	2.8% 21st of 155
Unemployment Rate - CIAUnemployment by Country	33.2% 183rd of 184	2.6% tied 24th of 184
Mortality (Deaths) - MaleCancer Rates by Country	58,934 165th of 183	167 11th of 183
LGBTQI+ Travel Safety IndexMost Homophobic Countries	317 16th of 197	-120 179th of 197
Women’s Employment 2020 to 2024Most Dangerous Countries for Women	45.0% 163rd of 198	88.1% 4th of 198
GDP Growth IMFGDP Growth by Country	1.5% tied 170th of 189	6% tied 20th of 189
Real GDP GrowthFastest Growing Economies	0.1% 178th of 189	5.2% tied 30th of 189
Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	26,253 27th of 158	5 149th of 158
Women’s Employment 2018 to 2022Most Dangerous Countries for Women	46.0% 150th of 188	83.5% 6th of 188
Women’s Employment 2011 to 2016Most Dangerous Countries for Women	42.6% 134th of 169	82.7% 6th of 169
Mean Speed ScoreRoad Quality by Country	100 8th of 155	57 tied 122nd of 155
Male ParticipationLabor Force Participation Rate by Country	64.7% 143rd of 186	86.8% tied 5th of 186
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaCO₂ Emissions by Country	7.19 t/cap 171st of 206	0.3 t/cap tied 21st of 206
Patent Grants (Total) 1980-2022Inventions by Country	42,811 29th of 169	26 150th of 169
Local Purchasing Power Index (Numbeo)Cost of Living by Country	111.2 24th of 136	22.1 121st of 136
Female Obesity Rate (WHO)Obesity Rates by Country	47.6% 173rd of 196	14.9% 33rd of 196
Male Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	38.9% 135th of 167	10.4% 16th of 167
Workforce Participation MenWorkforce Participation by Country	64.447 133rd of 181	87.433 5th of 181
Prisoners per 100k PopulationMost Strict Countries in the World	260 168th of 219	41 tied 14th of 219
Patent Grants AbroadInventions by Country	461 35th of 149	1 tied last of 149
CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country	0.51 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 189th of 198	0.09 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 47th of 198
Coronavirus Deaths per 100k PopulationCoronavirus by Country	173 tied 153rd of 223	1 tied 1st of 223
Male Tobacco UsersSmoking Rates by Country	38.9% 128th of 167	12.4% 16th of 167
CO2 Emissions per Person (Tonnes)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	6.88 168th of 203	0.31 32nd of 203
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	41.0% tied 165th of 199	10.0% 33rd of 199
Total GHG Emissions per CapitaGreenhouse Gas Emissions by Country	8.61 t CO₂eq/cap 162nd of 206	1.31 t CO₂eq/cap 26th of 206
Gini Coefficient - WealthWealth Inequality by Country	88.6% tied 165th of 171	74.4% tied 53rd of 171
Lung Cancer Mortality, ASR (Males)Lung Cancer Rates by Country	25.5 per 100k 130th of 184	2.5 per 100k 9th of 184
Total Tobacco SmokersSmoking Rates by Country	23.6% 122nd of 167	5.8% tied 12th of 167

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, South Africa or Tanzania?: Tanzania comes out ahead of South Africa on 251 of 486 statistics where one end is better, to 229 with 6 ties. South Africa leads on Tech & Business, Education and Politics & Government and 5 more categories. Tanzania leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Environment and 2 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, South Africa or Tanzania?: South Africa has a population of 65,453,084 (24th of 235 countries) and Tanzania has 72,563,780 (20th of 235).
How do South Africa and Tanzania compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): South Africa 66.3 (181st of 215), Tanzania 67.2 (174th of 215) among countries. Tanzania ranks better.
How do South Africa and Tanzania compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): South Africa $15,906 (108th of 184), Tanzania $4,471 (158th of 184) among countries. South Africa ranks better.
Where does South Africa beat Tanzania most clearly?: South Africa ranks far ahead on LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (Most Homophobic Countries): 317 vs -120; Patent Grants (Resident) 1980-2022 (Inventions by Country): 26,253 vs 5; Mean Speed Score (Road Quality by Country): 100 vs 57.
Where does Tanzania beat South Africa most clearly?: Tanzania ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)): 1.57% vs 32.4%; Unemployment Rate - ILO (Unemployment by Country): 2.8% vs 28.8%; Unemployment Rate - CIA (Unemployment by Country): 2.6% vs 33.2%.

More matchups

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