The map above shows Rhode Island and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Rhode Island vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Rhode Island has a land area of 1,034 square miles (2,678 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 453.5 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Total area: Rhode Island: 1,545 square miles (4,002 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 305.1 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Length: Rhode Island is 61 miles (98 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 17.2 times longer than Rhode Island's.
Width: Rhode Island spans 42 miles (67 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 24.1 times wider than Rhode Island's.
Highest point: Rhode Island's highest point is Jerimoth Hill at 811 feet (247 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 10,508 feet higher than Jerimoth Hill.
Lowest point: Rhode Island's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Rhode Island vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Rhode Island has a population of 1,112,308 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 57.1 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Population density: Rhode Island: 1,075.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Rhode Island's population density is 7.9 times (694%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Rhode Island's biggest city is Providence with 194,706 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 24.7 times larger than Providence's.
Largest metro area: Rhode Island's largest metropolitan area is Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (1,700,901 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 4.2 times (316%) larger than Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area's.
History: Rhode Island: Admitted to the Union on May 29, 1790, as the 13th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Rhode Island is the older of the two by 120 years.
Rhode Island vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Rhode Island's GDP is $80.4 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 5.3 times (431%) larger than Rhode Island's.
GDP per capita: Rhode Island: $72,265 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Rhode Island's GDP per capita is 11.0 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Rhode Island: $70,622 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Rhode Island's average income is 11.3 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Rhode Island official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Rhode Island 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.