Ethiopia vs South Africa

South Africa scores 41.9 in the NationsTree Index (122nd in the world) and Ethiopia scores 33.6 (151st), a gap of 8.3 points. Their trees are 12 m and 18 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Ethiopia has 2.1 times the population of South Africa. Ethiopia and South Africa have a similar land area. South Africa has an economy 2.1 times the size of Ethiopia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Ethiopia 135.5 million and South Africa 64.7 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $15,906 in South Africa and $3,622 in Ethiopia (2025, international dollars). People in Ethiopia live on average 1.3 years longer (67.6 vs 66.3 years).

Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Ethiopia ranks higher in the world on 10 and South Africa on 23. Ethiopia is clearly stronger in environment & energy and economy. South Africa is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, society & health and institutions & safety.

As a nation, Ethiopia is the older of the two (statehood since 100, 1,926 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years Ethiopia improved faster (direction score 83 vs 7 out of 100).