The map above shows China and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
China vs South Africa Geography
Land area: China has a land area of 3,600,947 square miles (9,326,410 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). China's land area is 7.7 times (668%) larger than South Africa's.
Total area: China: 3,705,407 square miles (9,596,960 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. China's total area is 7.9 times (686%) larger than South Africa's.
Length: China is 2,551 miles (4,105 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). China's north-south length is 2.4 times (143%) longer than South Africa's.
Width: China spans 3,040 miles (4,892 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). China's east-west width is 3.0 times (200%) wider than South Africa's.
Highest point: China's highest point is Mount Everest at 29,032 feet (8,849 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mount Everest is 17,713 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: China's lowest point is Turpan Depression at -505 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. China's lowest point is 505 feet lower.
China vs South Africa Population and History
Population: China has a population of 1,404,890,000 (2025), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). China's population is 22.1 times larger than South Africa's.
Population density: China: 390.1 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. China's population density is 2.9 times (188%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: China's biggest city is Shanghai with 24,870,895 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Shanghai's population is 5.2 times (418%) larger than Johannesburg's.
Largest metro area: China's largest metropolitan area is Shanghai (29,558,908 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Shanghai's population is 4.2 times (318%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History: China: The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, South Africa is the older of the two by 39 years.
China vs South Africa Economy
GDP: China's GDP is $19,498.0 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. China's economic output is 45.6 times larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: China: $13,862 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. China's GDP per capita is 2.1 times (110%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: China: $14,230 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). China's average income is 2.3 times (127%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
China official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All China 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.