The map above shows Idaho and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Idaho vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Idaho has a land area of 82,645 square miles (214,051 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 5.7 times (467%) larger than Idaho's.
Total area: Idaho: 83,569 square miles (216,441 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 5.6 times (464%) larger than Idaho's.
Length: Idaho is 483 miles (778 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.2 times (117%) longer than Idaho's.
Width: Idaho spans 352 miles (566 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.9 times (188%) wider than Idaho's.
Highest point: Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak at 12,631 feet (3,850 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Borah Peak is 1,312 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: Idaho's lowest point is Snake River at 718 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 718 feet lower.
Idaho vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Idaho has a population of 2,001,619 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 31.7 times larger than Idaho's.
Population density: Idaho: 24.2 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 5.6 times (460%) higher than Idaho's.
Biggest city: Idaho's biggest city is Boise with 237,963 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 20.2 times larger than Boise's.
Largest metro area: Idaho's largest metropolitan area is Boise City, ID metro area (845,877 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 8.4 times (737%) larger than Boise City, ID metro area's.
History: Idaho: Admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Idaho is the older of the two by 20 years.
Idaho vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Idaho's GDP is $129.0 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 3.3 times (231%) larger than Idaho's.
GDP per capita: Idaho: $64,457 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Idaho's GDP per capita is 9.8 times (877%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Idaho: $62,323 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Idaho's average income is 9.9 times (894%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Idaho official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Idaho 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.