The map above shows Arkansas and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Arkansas vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Arkansas has a land area of 51,992 square miles (134,658 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 9.0 times (802%) larger than Arkansas'.
Total area: Arkansas: 53,198 square miles (137,781 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 8.9 times (786%) larger than Arkansas'.
Length: Arkansas is 243 miles (392 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 4.3 times (332%) longer than Arkansas'.
Width: Arkansas spans 279 miles (449 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 3.6 times (263%) wider than Arkansas'.
Highest point: Arkansas's highest point is Mount Magazine at 2,752 feet (839 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 8,567 feet higher than Mount Magazine.
Lowest point: Arkansas's lowest point is Ouachita River at 55 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 55 feet lower.
Arkansas vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Arkansas has a population of 3,088,354 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 20.6 times larger than Arkansas'.
Population density: Arkansas: 59.4 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 2.3 times (128%) higher than Arkansas'.
Biggest city: Arkansas's biggest city is Little Rock with 204,774 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 23.5 times larger than Little Rock's.
Largest metro area: Arkansas's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 5.3 times (428%) larger than Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's.
History: Arkansas: Admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Arkansas is the older of the two by 74 years.
Arkansas vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Arkansas's GDP is $188.3 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 2.3 times (127%) larger than Arkansas'.
GDP per capita: Arkansas: $60,984 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Arkansas' GDP per capita is 9.2 times (824%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Arkansas: $59,320 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Arkansas' average income is 9.5 times (846%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Arkansas official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Arkansas size comparisons · All South Africa size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.