The map above shows Japan and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Japan vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Japan has a land area of 140,752 square miles (364,546 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 3.3 times (233%) larger than Japan's.
Total area: Japan: 145,937 square miles (377,975 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 3.2 times (223%) larger than Japan's.
Length: Japan is 1,557 miles (2,505 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). Japan's north-south length is 1.5 times (48%) longer than South Africa's.
Width: Japan spans 1,568 miles (2,524 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). Japan's east-west width is 1.5 times (55%) wider than South Africa's.
Highest point: Japan's highest point is Mount Fuji at 12,388 feet (3,776 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mount Fuji is 1,069 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: Japan's lowest point is Hachirogata at -13 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Japan's lowest point is 13 feet lower.
Japan vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Japan has a population of 122,680,000 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). Japan's population is 1.9 times (93%) larger than South Africa's.
Population density: Japan: 871.6 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Japan's population density is 6.4 times (543%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Japan's biggest city is Tokyo with 13,515,271 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Tokyo's population is 2.8 times (181%) larger than Johannesburg's.
Largest metro area: Japan's largest metropolitan area is Tokyo (33,412,512 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Tokyo's population is 4.7 times (372%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History: Japan: An independent state for over two millennia; the current constitution dates from 1947. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Japan is the older of the two by 1,250 years.
Japan vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Japan's GDP is $4,435.2 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Japan's economic output is 10.4 times larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Japan: $35,951 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Japan's GDP per capita is 5.4 times (445%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Japan: $38,340 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Japan's average income is 6.1 times (511%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Japan official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Japan 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.