Ireland vs South Africa
Ireland vs South Africa: Forest area
Forest area in 2024: 12% in Ireland and 18.8% in South Africa, by FAO estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in South Africa, by 6.8 percentage points, or 1.57 times that in Ireland.
% of land · FAO
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1990.
- In 2024, Ireland ranked 157 and South Africa ranked 133 of 209 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
% of land · FAO
| Year | Ireland | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 18.8 | – |
| 2023 | 11.9 | 18.7 | 31.1 |
| 2022 | 11.8 | 18.7 | 31.1 |
| 2021 | 11.6 | 18.6 | 31.2 |
| 2020 | 11.5 | 18.5 | 31.2 |
| 2019 | 11.4 | 18.4 | 31.2 |
| 2018 | 11.3 | 18.4 | 31.3 |
| 2017 | 11.2 | 18.3 | 31.3 |
| 2016 | 11.1 | 18.2 | 31.3 |
| 2015 | 11 | 18.1 | 31.4 |
| 2014 | 10.9 | 18.1 | 31.4 |
| 2013 | 10.8 | 18 | 31.4 |
| 2012 | 10.7 | 17.9 | 31.5 |
| 2011 | 10.6 | 17.9 | 31.9 |
| 2010 | 10.5 | 17.8 | 32 |
| 2009 | 10.3 | 17.7 | 32 |
| 2008 | 10.2 | 17.6 | 32 |
| 2007 | 10.1 | 17.6 | 32.1 |
| 2006 | 9.9 | 17.5 | 32.1 |
| 2005 | 9.8 | 17.4 | 32.1 |
| 2004 | 9.7 | 17.4 | 32.2 |
| 2003 | 9.5 | 17.3 | 32.3 |
| 2002 | 9.4 | 17.2 | 32.3 |
| 2001 | 9.3 | 17.1 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 9.2 | 17.1 | 32.4 |
| 1999 | 8.9 | 17 | 32.5 |
| 1998 | 8.7 | 16.9 | 32.5 |
| 1997 | 8.4 | 16.8 | 32.6 |
| 1996 | 8.2 | 16.8 | 32.7 |
| 1995 | 7.9 | 16.7 | 32.7 |
| 1994 | 7.7 | 16.6 | 32.8 |
| 1993 | 7.4 | 16.6 | 32.8 |
| 1992 | 7.2 | 16.5 | 33 |
| 1991 | 6.9 | 16.4 | – |
| 1990 | 6.7 | 16.3 | – |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of land under trees at least 5 metres tall, natural or planted, leaving out orchards and city parks.
- Source: FAO, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 209 countries with a value in 2024, 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
Ireland vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyIreland: 82.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025