The map above shows Iowa and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Iowa vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Iowa has a land area of 55,854 square miles (144,660 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 8.4 times (740%) larger than Iowa's.
Total area: Iowa: 56,273 square miles (145,746 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 8.4 times (738%) larger than Iowa's.
Length: Iowa is 216 miles (347 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 4.9 times (386%) longer than Iowa's.
Width: Iowa spans 335 miles (539 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 3.0 times (202%) wider than Iowa's.
Highest point: Iowa's highest point is Hawkeye Point at 1,669 feet (509 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 9,650 feet higher than Hawkeye Point.
Lowest point: Iowa's lowest point is Mississippi River at 480 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 480 feet lower.
Iowa vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Iowa has a population of 3,241,488 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 19.6 times larger than Iowa's.
Population density: Iowa: 58.0 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 2.3 times (134%) higher than Iowa's.
Biggest city: Iowa's biggest city is Des Moines with 213,096 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 22.5 times larger than Des Moines'.
Largest metro area: Iowa's largest metropolitan area is Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 7.1 times (607%) larger than Omaha, NE-IA metro area's.
History: Iowa: Admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846, as the 29th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Iowa is the older of the two by 64 years.
Iowa vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Iowa's GDP is $265.8 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 1.6 times (61%) larger than Iowa's.
GDP per capita: Iowa: $81,998 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Iowa's GDP per capita is 12.4 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Iowa: $65,225 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Iowa's average income is 10.4 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Iowa official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Iowa 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.