The map above shows Virginia and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Virginia vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Virginia has a land area of 39,481 square miles (102,256 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 11.9 times larger than Virginia's.
Total area: Virginia: 42,775 square miles (110,786 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 11.0 times larger than Virginia's.
Length: Virginia is 223 miles (359 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 4.7 times (371%) longer than Virginia's.
Width: Virginia spans 466 miles (750 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.2 times (117%) wider than Virginia's.
Highest point: Virginia's highest point is Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 5,590 feet higher than Mount Rogers.
Lowest point: Virginia'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.
Virginia vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Virginia has a population of 8,811,195 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 7.2 times (621%) larger than Virginia's.
Population density: Virginia: 223.2 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Virginia's population density is 1.6 times (65%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Virginia's biggest city is Virginia Beach with 454,808 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 10.6 times larger than Virginia Beach's.
Largest metro area: Virginia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's.
History: Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788, as the 10th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Virginia is the older of the two by 122 years.
Virginia vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Virginia's GDP is $761.7 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Virginia's economic output is 1.8 times (78%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Virginia: $86,451 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Virginia's GDP per capita is 13.1 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Virginia: $77,351 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Virginia's average income is 12.3 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Virginia official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Virginia 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.