The map above shows Missouri and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Missouri vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Missouri has a land area of 68,746 square miles (178,052 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 6.8 times (582%) larger than Missouri's.
Total area: Missouri: 69,707 square miles (180,540 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 6.8 times (576%) larger than Missouri's.
Length: Missouri is 328 miles (529 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.2 times (220%) longer than Missouri's.
Width: Missouri spans 437 miles (703 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.3 times (132%) wider than Missouri's.
Highest point: Missouri's highest point is Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,771 feet (540 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 9,548 feet higher than Taum Sauk Mountain.
Lowest point: Missouri's lowest point is St. Francis River at 230 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 230 feet lower.
Missouri vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Missouri has a population of 6,245,466 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 10.2 times larger than Missouri's.
Population density: Missouri: 90.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 1.5 times (49%) higher than Missouri's.
Biggest city: Missouri's biggest city is Kansas City with 516,032 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 9.3 times (831%) larger than Kansas City's.
Largest metro area: Missouri's largest metropolitan area is St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (2,811,927 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 2.5 times (152%) larger than St. Louis, MO-IL metro area's.
History: Missouri: Admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821, as the 24th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Missouri is the older of the two by 89 years.
Missouri vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Missouri's GDP is $448.7 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Missouri's economic output is 1.1 times (5%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Missouri: $71,846 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Missouri's GDP per capita is 10.9 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Missouri: $64,920 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Missouri's average income is 10.4 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Missouri official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Missouri 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.