South Africa vs Zimbabwe: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 64.7m2025 | 17.0m2025 | 24 · 73 |
| Area | 1,219,602 km²2024 | 390,760 km²2024 | 24 · 62 |
| Density | 52.82024 | 43.02024 | 151 · 161 |
| Urban share | 63.8%2025 | 40.5%2025 | 111 · 171 |
| Fertility | 2.212024 | 3.672024 | 94 · 37 |
| Aged 65+ | 6.9%2025 | 3.6%2025 | 126 · 177 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $427bn2025 | $51.2bn2025 | 40 · 97 |
| GDP per capita | $6,5982025 | $3,0212025 | 126 · 164 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $15,9062025 | $6,4702025 | 120 · 157 |
| GDP growth | 1.1%2025 | 8.1%2025 | 169 · 10 |
| Agriculture share | 2.8%2025 | 9.5%2025 | 130 · 73 |
| Industry share | 24.1%2025 | 37.1%2025 | 95 · 23 |
| Services share | 63.1%2025 | 48.2%2025 | 68 · 155 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 3.2%2025 | 104.7%2022 | 89 · 3 |
| Tax revenue | 25.9%2024 | — | 10 · — |
| Military spending | 0.74%2025 | 0.56%2025 | 133 · 141 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 31.4%2025 | 18.1%2024 | 110 · 153 |
| FDI inflows | -0.5%2025 | 1.9%2025 | 184 · 107 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 32.4%2025 | 9.3%2025 | 2 · 42 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 44.9%2025 | 30.1%2025 | 16 · 76 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 23.5%2023 | 7.7%2024 | 123 · 158 |
| Education spending | 6.0%2024 | 0.4%2023 | 26 · 182 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs2024 | 63.1 yrs2024 | 183 · 200 |
| Infant mortality | 24.22024 | 62.42024 | 58 · 6 |
| Health spending | 8.9%2023 | 2.9%2023 | 47 · 179 |
| Physicians | 0.792022 | 0.142023 | 113 · 165 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 78.4%2024 | 41.6%2024 | 105 · 155 |
| Fixed broadband | 5.32024 | 1.92024 | 137 · 158 |
| Electricity access | 90.2%2024 | 62.0%2024 | 161 · 184 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 6.88 t2024 | 0.77 t2024 | 36 · 148 |
| Renewable energy | 9.7%2021 | 82.4%2021 | 147 · 14 |
| Forest cover | 18.8%2024 | 35.7%2024 | 134 · 93 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
South AfricaZimbabwe
Life expectancy
South AfricaZimbabwe
Population
South AfricaZimbabwe
Internet users
South AfricaZimbabwe
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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