The map above shows Northern Ireland and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northern Ireland vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Northern Ireland has a land area of 5,236 square miles (13,562 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 89.5 times larger than Northern Ireland's.
Total area: Northern Ireland: 5,456 square miles (14,130 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 86.4 times larger than Northern Ireland's.
Length: Northern Ireland is 83 miles (134 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 12.7 times longer than Northern Ireland's.
Width: Northern Ireland spans 107 miles (173 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 9.5 times (846%) wider than Northern Ireland's.
Highest point: Northern Ireland's highest point is Slieve Donard at 2,789 feet (850 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 8,530 feet higher than Slieve Donard.
Lowest point: Northern Ireland's lowest point is Irish Sea at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Northern Ireland vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Northern Ireland has a population of 1,905,000 (2022), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 33.3 times larger than Northern Ireland's.
Population density: Northern Ireland: 363.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Northern Ireland's population density is 2.7 times (168%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Northern Ireland's biggest city is Belfast with 348,005 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 13.8 times larger than Belfast's.
History: Northern Ireland: A country within the United Kingdom; created by the partition of Ireland on May 3, 1921. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, South Africa is the older of the two by 11 years.
Northern Ireland vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Northern Ireland's GDP is $58.8 billion (2022) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 7.3 times (627%) larger than Northern Ireland's.
GDP per capita: Northern Ireland: $30,686 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Northern Ireland's GDP per capita is 4.7 times (365%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Northern Ireland official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Northern Ireland 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.