The map above shows Montana and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Montana vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Montana has a land area of 145,550 square miles (376,973 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 3.2 times (222%) larger than Montana's.
Total area: Montana: 147,043 square miles (380,840 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 (221%) larger than Montana's.
Length: Montana is 319 miles (514 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.3 times (229%) longer than Montana's.
Width: Montana spans 607 miles (976 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 1.7 times (67%) wider than Montana's.
Highest point: Montana's highest point is Granite Peak at 12,767 feet (3,891 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Granite Peak is 1,448 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: Montana's lowest point is Kootenai River at 1,805 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 1,805 feet lower.
Montana vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Montana has a population of 1,137,233 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 55.9 times larger than Montana's.
Population density: Montana: 7.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 17.4 times higher than Montana's.
Biggest city: Montana's biggest city is Billings with 121,483 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 39.5 times larger than Billings'.
Largest metro area: Montana's largest metropolitan area is Billings, MT metro area (192,531 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 36.8 times larger than Billings, MT metro area's.
History: Montana: Admitted to the Union on November 8, 1889, as the 41st state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Montana is the older of the two by 21 years.
Montana vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Montana's GDP is $78.4 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 5.4 times (445%) larger than Montana's.
GDP per capita: Montana: $68,975 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Montana's GDP per capita is 10.5 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Montana: $69,240 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Montana's average income is 11.0 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Montana official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Montana 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.