The map above shows Indiana and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Indiana vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Indiana has a land area of 35,825 square miles (92,787 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 13.1 times larger than Indiana's.
Total area: Indiana: 36,421 square miles (94,331 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 12.9 times larger than Indiana's.
Length: Indiana is 276 miles (444 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.8 times (280%) longer than Indiana's.
Width: Indiana spans 193 miles (310 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 5.2 times (424%) wider than Indiana's.
Highest point: Indiana's highest point is Hoosier Hill at 1,255 feet (383 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 10,064 feet higher than Hoosier Hill.
Lowest point: Indiana's lowest point is Ohio River at 330 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 330 feet lower.
Indiana vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Indiana has a population of 6,924,275 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 9.2 times (817%) larger than Indiana's.
Population density: Indiana: 193.3 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Indiana's population density is 1.4 times (43%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Indiana's biggest city is Indianapolis with 891,484 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 5.4 times (439%) larger than Indianapolis'.
Largest metro area: Indiana's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 1.3 times (33%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History: Indiana: Admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816, as the 19th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Indiana is the older of the two by 94 years.
Indiana vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Indiana's GDP is $519.5 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Indiana's economic output is 1.2 times (22%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Indiana: $75,028 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Indiana's GDP per capita is 11.4 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Indiana: $64,077 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Indiana's average income is 10.2 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Indiana official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Indiana 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.