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Brazil vs South Africa
Side-by-side comparison of Brazil and South Africa from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Brazil
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 204 years
South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 116 years
In short
Brazil scores 51.4 in the NationsTree Index (82nd in the world) and South Africa scores 41.9 (122nd), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 42 m and 18 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Brazil has 3.3 times the population of South Africa. Brazil is 7.0 times larger than South Africa by land area. Brazil has an economy 4.8 times the size of South Africa (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Brazil 212.8 million and South Africa 64.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $23,433 in Brazil and $15,906 in South Africa (2025, international dollars). People in Brazil live on average 9.7 years longer (76.0 vs 66.3 years).
Of 40 indicators reported by both countries, Brazil ranks higher in the world on 27 and South Africa on 13. Brazil is clearly stronger in environment & energy, science & innovation and military.
As a nation, Brazil is the older of the two (statehood since 1822, 204 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years Brazil improved faster (direction score 13 vs 7 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Brazil and South Africa.
Brazilbetter
26,918
24th of 183
South Africa
718
145th of 183
Tertiary enrolmentSociety & health
Brazilbetter
69.7%
49th of 150
South Africa
23.5%
115th of 150
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Brazilbetter
46.5%
53rd of 212
South Africa
9.7%
146th of 212
UnemploymentEconomy
Brazilbetter
6.0%
109th of 187
South Africa
32.4%
186th of 187
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Brazilbetter
13.4
68th of 200
South Africa
27.7
146th of 200
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Brazil overtook South Africa in the NationsTree Index in 2006 and has stayed ahead since.
Brazil has been ahead of South Africa in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BrazilSouth Africa All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Brazil | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 8,510,4205th/216 · 2024 | 1,219,60224th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 8,358,1405th/216 · 2024 | 1,213,09024th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 212.8 m7th/217 · 2025 | 64.7 m24th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.38%150th/217 · 2025 | 1.15%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 25.4181st/216 · 2024 | 52.8151st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 88.2%39th/217 · 2025 | 63.8%111th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 19.4%128th/217 · 2025 | 25.7%91st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 11.5%92nd/217 · 2025 | 6.9%126th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.28 trn11th/210 · 2025 | $427.18 bn40th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $4.99 trn8th/199 · 2025 | $1.03 trn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $4.26 trn8th/199 · 2025 | $880.05 bn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $10,713101st/210 · 2025 | $6,598125th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $23,43393rd/199 · 2025 | $15,906120th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $10,55092nd/201 · 2025 | $6,270116th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.3%137th/210 · 2025 | 1.1%169th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 5.0%138th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%92nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.0%109th/187 · 2025 | 32.4%186th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 81.9%43rd/55 · 2024 | 82.8%45th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 93.3%161st/189 · 2025 | 78.4%145th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.4%175th/192 · 2025 | -5.6%160th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.1%99th/197 · 2025 | 2.8%130th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 20.1%124th/200 · 2025 | 24.1%95th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 11.8%81st/192 · 2025 | 12.3%76th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 59.7%88th/200 · 2025 | 63.1%67th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $406.30 bn25th/182 · 2025 | $134.18 bn42nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $398.32 bn24th/182 · 2025 | $126.02 bn43rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 17.8%153rd/183 · 2025 | 31.4%109th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 17.5%171st/183 · 2025 | 29.5%134th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 35.3%170th/183 · 2025 | 60.9%126th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 16.1%39th/170 · 2025 | 8.2%58th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 23.8%99th/171 · 2025 | 38.3%80th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 40.7%40th/171 · 2025 | 12.8%101st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 12.2%36th/171 · 2025 | 30.4%18th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 11.1%58th/168 · 2024 | 5.7%91st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.9%115th/191 · 2025 | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.4%63rd/196 · 2025 | -0.5%183rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 7.9%53rd/209 · 2021 | 7.3%58th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.60%35th/197 · 2021 | 0.40%57th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.07%63rd/197 · 2021 | 0.03%71st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%49th/195 · 2021 | 2.44%4th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 4.49%24th/209 · 2021 | 3.83%28th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.76%60th/209 · 2021 | 0.63%66th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 6.7%124th/206 · 2024 | 9.9%105th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 26,91824th/183 · 2022 | 718145th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 6.4 m32nd/194 · 2019 | 3.9 m45th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $3.10 bn40th/175 · 2020 | $2.72 bn43rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.3%144th/168 · 2020 | 2.9%109th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 10.6 m18th/107 · 2018 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.099th/217 · 2024 | 66.3183rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 14.297th/196 · 2024 | 35.1144th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.3675th/174 · 2023 | 0.79108th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.571st/145 · 2021 | 2.32010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 74%160th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 67.2%86th/153 · 2023 | 85.4%61st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.1%45th/173 · 2024 | 104.1%46th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 52.3%28th/55 · 2022 | 78.4%12th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 16.6%91st/217 · 2025 | 10.2%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.7%31st/193 · 2023 | 8.9%47th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 94.7%39th/98 · 2024 | 91.2%48th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 69.7%49th/150 · 2024 | 23.5%115th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.78684th/193 · 2023 | 0.741106th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 50.3105th/108 · 2024 | 54.1107th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 3.0%69th/108 · 2024 | 17.4%87th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 | 90.2%161st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 88.6%65th/150 · 2024 | 68.0%90th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 55.0%79th/144 · 2024 | 73.8%60th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 84.5%84th/186 · 2024 | 78.4%105th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 102135th/210 · 2024 | 17911th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 24.178th/208 · 2024 | 5.3137th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 3.6029th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 32,6222007 | 20,9539th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 95.4 m10th/161 · 2023 | 15.5 m42nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.3295th/203 · 2024 | 6.88168th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 46.5%53rd/212 · 2021 | 9.7%146th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 13.468th/200 · 2023 | 27.7146th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 58.5%34th/214 · 2024 | 18.8%134th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,52874th/149 · 2024 | 1,90761st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 51.6111th/205 · 2025 | 51.9109th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 40.4123rd/207 · 2025 | 45.498th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 50.6134th/207 · 2025 | 59.396th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 58.9143rd/207 · 2025 | 58.9142nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 47.9131st/205 · 2025 | 54.399th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 65.576th/205 · 2025 | 70.257th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 19.3129th/145 · 2023 | 43.7140th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $23.95 bn21st/156 · 2025 | $3.17 bn54th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.1%111th/156 · 2025 | 0.7%133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.2%138th/154 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 762,0008th/170 · 2020 | 89,00054th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.76%90th/168 · 2020 | 0.40%131st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 462.0 m23rd/163 · 2025 | 30.0 m78th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 153.0 m18th/65 · 2025 | 115.0 m24th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.19%36th/110 · 2023 | 0.61%58th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 5,75214th/137 · 2024 | 35053rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 58,29213th/197 · 2023 | 14,94933rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil has the larger population: 212.8 m (2025) compared with 64.7 m for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil is larger: 8,510,420 km² (2024) compared with 1,219,602 km² for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $4.99 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.03 trn intl. for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $23,433 intl. (2025) compared with $15,906 intl. for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.0 years (2024) compared with 66.3 years for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil spends more on the military: $23.95 bn (2025) compared with $3.17 bn for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil: 51.4 points (82nd in the world); South Africa: 41.9 points (122nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Angola
Ethiopia
KenyaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Brazil vs South Africa — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/brazil-vs-south-africa. Data as of 26 October 2026.