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India vs South Africa
Side-by-side comparison of India and South Africa from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 116 years
In short
India scores 56.6 in the NationsTree Index (64th in the world) and South Africa scores 41.9 (122nd), a gap of 14.7 points. Their trees are 80 m and 18 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
India has 23 times the population of South Africa. India is 2.7 times larger than South Africa by land area. India has an economy 17 times the size of South Africa (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and South Africa 64.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $15,906 in South Africa and $11,748 in India (2025, international dollars). People in India live on average 5.9 years longer (72.2 vs 66.3 years).
Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 18 and South Africa on 20. India is clearly stronger in military, science & innovation and tourism.
As a nation, India is the older of the two (statehood since 322 BC, 2,347 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years India improved faster (direction score 97 vs 7 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between India and South Africa.
Indiabetter
23.0
1st of 108
South Africa
54.1
107th of 108
GDP growthEconomy
Indiabetter
7.6%
15th of 210
South Africa
1.1%
169th of 210
UnemploymentEconomy
Indiabetter
4.2%
71st of 187
South Africa
32.4%
186th of 187
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Indiabetter
94%
66th of 193
South Africa
74%
160th of 193
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Indiabetter
2.8
83rd of 145
South Africa
43.7
140th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
India overtook South Africa in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
India overtook South Africa in life expectancy in 1997 and has stayed ahead since.
South Africa has been ahead of India in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
India has been ahead of South Africa in GDP (PPP) 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
IndiaSouth 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 | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2637th/216 · 2024 | 1,219,60224th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,973,1907th/216 · 2024 | 1,213,09024th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.5 bn1st/217 · 2025 | 64.7 m24th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.89%109th/217 · 2025 | 1.15%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 488.025th/216 · 2024 | 52.8151st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 35.7%182nd/217 · 2025 | 63.8%111th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.2%101st/217 · 2025 | 25.7%91st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.4%121st/217 · 2025 | 6.9%126th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.96 trn6th/210 · 2025 | $427.18 bn40th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $17.20 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $1.03 trn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $14.70 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $880.05 bn32nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,702166th/210 · 2025 | $6,598125th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,748136th/199 · 2025 | $15,906120th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,760156th/201 · 2025 | $6,270116th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.6%15th/210 · 2025 | 1.1%169th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%75th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%92nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.2%71st/187 · 2025 | 32.4%186th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 46.5%2018 | 82.8%45th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.3%153rd/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 | 16.2%49th/197 · 2025 | 2.8%130th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%83rd/200 · 2025 | 24.1%95th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.5%57th/192 · 2025 | 12.3%76th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 49.3%148th/200 · 2025 | 63.1%67th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $880.74 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $134.18 bn42nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $949.66 bn7th/182 · 2025 | $126.02 bn43rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.3%133rd/183 · 2025 | 31.4%109th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 24.0%155th/183 · 2025 | 29.5%134th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.3%151st/183 · 2025 | 60.9%126th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 13.1%42nd/170 · 2025 | 8.2%58th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%41st/171 · 2025 | 38.3%80th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.9%106th/171 · 2025 | 12.8%101st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%75th/171 · 2025 | 30.4%18th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.6%35th/168 · 2024 | 5.7%91st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.7%87th/191 · 2025 | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%142nd/196 · 2025 | -0.5%183rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.2%85th/209 · 2021 | 7.3%58th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.33%60th/197 · 2021 | 0.40%57th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.08%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.03%71st/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 1.28%5th/195 · 2021 | 2.44%4th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.32%41st/209 · 2021 | 3.83%28th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%102nd/209 · 2021 | 0.63%66th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 51.7%6th/206 · 2024 | 9.9%105th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,014127th/183 · 2022 | 718145th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 17.9 m14th/194 · 2019 | 3.9 m45th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $13.41 bn13th/175 · 2020 | $2.72 bn43rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%112th/168 · 2020 | 2.9%109th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 26.9 m7th/107 · 2019 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.2137th/217 · 2024 | 66.3183rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.6134th/196 · 2024 | 35.1144th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72115th/174 · 2020 | 0.79108th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.698th/145 · 2021 | 2.32010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 74%160th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 52.7%111th/153 · 2023 | 85.4%61st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.6%128th/173 · 2025 | 104.1%46th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 77.2%2011 | 78.4%12th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%125th/217 · 2025 | 10.2%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%171st/193 · 2023 | 8.9%47th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 78.2%69th/98 · 2024 | 91.2%48th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 34.4%103rd/150 · 2025 | 23.5%115th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.741106th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 23.01st/108 · 2023 | 54.1107th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.6%68th/108 · 2023 | 17.4%87th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.9%123rd/215 · 2024 | 90.2%161st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 76.4%79th/150 · 2024 | 68.0%90th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.8%69th/144 · 2024 | 73.8%60th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.0%124th/186 · 2025 | 78.4%105th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79167th/210 · 2024 | 17911th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.2147th/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 | 68,1034th/82 · 2021 | 20,9539th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180.4 m4th/161 · 2023 | 15.5 m42nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.1793rd/203 · 2024 | 6.88168th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2021 | 9.7%146th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 54.1190th/200 · 2023 | 27.7146th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.4%121st/214 · 2024 | 18.8%134th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 777107th/149 · 2024 | 1,90761st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.664th/205 · 2025 | 51.9109th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.4112th/207 · 2025 | 45.498th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.5106th/207 · 2025 | 59.396th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0162nd/207 · 2025 | 58.9142nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.6109th/205 · 2025 | 54.399th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.9110th/205 · 2025 | 70.257th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.883rd/145 · 2022 | 43.7140th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $92.06 bn5th/156 · 2025 | $3.17 bn54th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%47th/156 · 2025 | 0.7%133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.2%38th/154 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3.1 m1st/170 · 2020 | 89,00054th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%103rd/168 · 2020 | 0.40%131st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.9 bn2nd/163 · 2025 | 30.0 m78th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 81.0 m28th/65 · 2025 | 115.0 m24th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%56th/110 · 2020 | 0.61%58th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 63,2175th/137 · 2024 | 35053rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 228,1743rd/197 · 2023 | 14,94933rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, India or South Africa?
India has the larger population: 1.5 bn (2025) compared with 64.7 m for South Africa (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, India or South Africa?
India is larger: 3,287,263 km² (2024) compared with 1,219,602 km² for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, India or South Africa?
India has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $17.20 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, India or South Africa?
South Africa has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $15,906 intl. (2025) compared with $11,748 intl. for India (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in India or South Africa?
India has the higher life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years (2024) compared with 66.3 years for South Africa (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, India or South Africa?
India spends more on the military: $92.06 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, India or South Africa?
India: 56.6 points (64th 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
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Nepal
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). India vs South Africa — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/india-vs-south-africa. Data as of 26 October 2026.