The map above shows Alabama and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 9.3 times (826%) larger than Alabama's.
Total area
- Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 9.0 times (799%) larger than Alabama's.
Length
- Alabama is 331 miles (532 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 (217%) longer than Alabama's.
Width
- Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 4.8 times (377%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point
- Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mafadi is 8,914 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point
- Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Alabama vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 12.3 times larger than Alabama's.
Population density
- Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- South Africa's population density is 1.3 times (33%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city
- Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 20.8 times larger than Huntsville's.
Largest metro area
- Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 5.9 times (493%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History
- Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, Alabama is the older of the two by 91 years.
Alabama vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 1.3 times (31%) larger than Alabama's.
GDP per capita
- Alabama: $63,080 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- Alabama's GDP per capita is 9.6 times (856%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- Alabama: $57,311 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- Alabama's average income is 9.1 times (814%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · South Africa official website
Download the Alabama vs South Africa Size Comparison Map for free
To download the map, right-click the image above (or press and hold on a phone or tablet) and choose Save image as. The map is free to use anywhere, including on your own website or in print, as long as you credit it with a link back to this page or to BrilliantMaps.com.
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama 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.