The map above shows Hawaii and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Hawaii vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Hawaii has a land area of 6,423 square miles (16,634 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 73.0 times larger than Hawaii's.
Total area: Hawaii: 10,970 square miles (28,412 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 43.0 times larger than Hawaii's.
Length: Hawaii is 333 miles (536 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.2 times (215%) longer than Hawaii's.
Width: Hawaii spans 386 miles (621 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.6 times (162%) wider than Hawaii's.
Highest point: Hawaii's highest point is Mauna Kea at 13,795 feet (4,205 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mauna Kea is 2,476 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: Hawaii's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Hawaii vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Hawaii has a population of 1,446,146 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 43.9 times larger than Hawaii's.
Population density: Hawaii: 225.2 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Hawaii's population density is 1.7 times (66%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Hawaii's biggest city is Honolulu with 344,967 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 13.9 times larger than Honolulu's.
Largest metro area: Hawaii's largest metropolitan area is Urban Honolulu, HI metro area (998,747 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 7.1 times (609%) larger than Urban Honolulu, HI metro area's.
History: Hawaii: Admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, as the 50th state. 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 49 years.
Hawaii vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Hawaii's GDP is $117.6 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 3.6 times (263%) larger than Hawaii's.
GDP per capita: Hawaii: $81,339 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Hawaii's GDP per capita is 12.3 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Hawaii: $71,019 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Hawaii's average income is 11.3 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Hawaii official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Hawaii 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.