Japan vs South Africa

Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and South Africa scores 41.9 (122nd), a gap of 37.4 points. Their trees are 57 m and 18 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Japan has 91% more people than South Africa. South Africa is 3.2 times larger than Japan by land area. Japan has an economy 6.6 times the size of South Africa (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Japan 123.4 million and South Africa 64.7 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $55,422 in Japan and $15,906 in South Africa (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 17.7 years longer (84.0 vs 66.3 years).

Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Japan ranks higher in the world on 31 and South Africa on 4. Japan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and science & innovation. South Africa is clearly stronger in natural resources.

As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years Japan improved faster (direction score 40 vs 7 out of 100).