Germany vs South Africa
Germany vs South Africa: GDP per person
GDP per person in 2025: $44,150 in Germany and $5,713 in South Africa, by World Bank estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Germany, by $38,437, or 7.73 times that in South Africa.
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
What the numbers say
- Germany has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1960.
- In 2025, Germany ranked 20 and South Africa ranked 101 of 186 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: $12,130 in 2025.
Every year
US dollars at 2015 prices · World Bank
| Year | Germany | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,150 | $5,713 | $12,130 |
| 2024 | $44,030 | $5,715 | $11,890 |
| 2023 | $44,370 | $5,757 | $11,670 |
| 2022 | $44,820 | $5,787 | $11,450 |
| 2021 | $44,010 | $5,751 | $11,170 |
| 2020 | $42,370 | $5,570 | $10,580 |
| 2019 | $44,240 | $6,033 | $11,000 |
| 2018 | $43,910 | $6,117 | $10,820 |
| 2017 | $43,540 | $6,126 | $10,590 |
| 2016 | $42,520 | $6,095 | $10,360 |
| 2015 | $41,930 | $6,112 | $10,190 |
| 2014 | $41,600 | $6,155 | $10,000 |
| 2013 | $40,880 | $6,171 | $9,811 |
| 2012 | $40,830 | $6,122 | $9,654 |
| 2011 | $40,720 | $6,067 | $9,515 |
| 2010 | $38,530 | $5,954 | $9,322 |
| 2009 | $36,940 | $5,847 | $9,028 |
| 2008 | $39,010 | $6,010 | $9,266 |
| 2007 | $38,590 | $5,891 | $9,191 |
| 2006 | $37,460 | $5,651 | $8,913 |
| 2005 | $36,020 | $5,406 | $8,639 |
| 2004 | $35,690 | $5,187 | $8,409 |
| 2003 | $35,270 | $5,012 | $8,151 |
| 2002 | $35,480 | $4,917 | $8,011 |
| 2001 | $35,620 | $4,786 | $7,932 |
| 2000 | $35,100 | $4,701 | $7,880 |
| 1999 | $34,170 | $4,553 | $7,639 |
| 1998 | $33,480 | $4,495 | $7,479 |
| 1997 | $32,800 | $4,527 | $7,382 |
| 1996 | $32,250 | $4,466 | $7,203 |
| 1995 | $32,010 | $4,337 | $7,058 |
| 1994 | $31,630 | $4,258 | $6,944 |
| 1993 | $30,930 | $4,194 | $6,819 |
| 1992 | $31,440 | $4,226 | $6,801 |
| 1991 | $31,060 | $4,396 | $6,773 |
| 1990 | $29,760 | $4,544 | $6,804 |
| 1989 | $28,520 | $4,687 | $6,741 |
| 1988 | $27,670 | $4,714 | $6,620 |
| 1987 | $26,780 | $4,664 | $6,446 |
| 1986 | $26,450 | $4,713 | $6,326 |
| 1985 | $25,870 | $4,865 | $6,233 |
| 1984 | $25,230 | $5,092 | $6,120 |
| 1983 | $24,450 | $5,015 | $5,947 |
| 1982 | $24,010 | $5,291 | $5,903 |
| 1981 | $24,080 | $5,499 | $5,986 |
| 1980 | $23,990 | $5,400 | $5,980 |
| 1979 | $23,710 | $5,221 | $5,978 |
| 1978 | $22,770 | $5,168 | $5,843 |
| 1977 | $22,090 | $5,156 | $5,710 |
| 1976 | $21,320 | $5,302 | $5,591 |
| 1975 | $20,230 | $5,328 | $5,410 |
| 1974 | $20,330 | $5,386 | $5,467 |
| 1973 | $20,160 | $5,221 | $5,465 |
| 1972 | $19,300 | $5,137 | $5,236 |
| 1971 | $18,590 | $5,201 | $5,061 |
| 1970 | $18,060 | $5,136 | $4,964 |
| 1969 | $17,240 | $5,030 | $4,885 |
| 1968 | $16,180 | $4,954 | $4,707 |
| 1967 | $15,380 | $4,907 | $4,535 |
| 1966 | $15,500 | $4,722 | $4,461 |
| 1965 | $15,200 | $4,664 | $4,321 |
| 1964 | $14,570 | $4,532 | $4,176 |
| 1963 | $13,770 | $4,329 | $3,999 |
| 1962 | $13,530 | $4,156 | $3,889 |
| 1961 | $13,050 | $4,032 | $3,759 |
| 1960 | $12,610 | $3,993 | $3,667 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The value of everything produced in the country in a year, divided by its people, in 2015 US dollars so that years compare.
- Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
- Ranks count the 186 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Germany vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyGermany: 81.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityGermany: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityGermany: 3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionGermany: 3.96% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateGermany: 9.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationGermany: 84.6 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthGermany: 0.35% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateGermany: 1.44 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationGermany: 82.1% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageGermany: 45.2 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overGermany: 22.8% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateGermany: 7.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingGermany: 2.27% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsGermany: $107B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personGermany: $1,346 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingGermany: 4.5% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelGermany: 183,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerGermany: 1.5% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersGermany: 0.42% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsGermany: 1.63 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsGermany: 1.7 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025