The map above shows Mississippi and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Mississippi vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Mississippi has a land area of 46,925 square miles (121,534 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 10.0 times (899%) larger than Mississippi's.
Total area: Mississippi: 48,436 square miles (125,448 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 9.7 times (873%) larger than Mississippi's.
Length: Mississippi is 337 miles (542 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.1 times (212%) longer than Mississippi's.
Width: Mississippi spans 340 miles (547 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 3.0 times (198%) wider than Mississippi's.
Highest point: Mississippi's highest point is Woodall Mountain at 805 feet (245 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 10,514 feet higher than Woodall Mountain.
Lowest point: Mississippi's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Mississippi vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Mississippi has a population of 2,943,045 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 21.6 times larger than Mississippi's.
Population density: Mississippi: 62.7 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 2.2 times (116%) higher than Mississippi's.
Biggest city: Mississippi's biggest city is Jackson with 141,449 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 34.0 times larger than Jackson's.
Largest metro area: Mississippi's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 5.3 times (428%) larger than Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's.
History: Mississippi: Admitted to the Union on December 10, 1817, as the 20th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Mississippi is the older of the two by 93 years.
Mississippi vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Mississippi's GDP is $158.2 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 2.7 times (170%) larger than Mississippi's.
GDP per capita: Mississippi: $53,751 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Mississippi's GDP per capita is 8.1 times (715%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Mississippi: $52,074 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Mississippi's average income is 8.3 times (731%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Mississippi official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Mississippi 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.