The map above shows British Columbia and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
British Columbia vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- British Columbia has a land area of 357,216 square miles (925,186 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 1.3 times (31%) larger than British Columbia's.
Total area
- British Columbia: 364,764 square miles (944,735 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 1.3 times (29%) larger than British Columbia's.
Length
- British Columbia is 1,017 miles (1,637 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- British Columbia and South Africa have about the same north-south length.
Width
- British Columbia spans 1,245 miles (2,003 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- British Columbia's east-west width is 1.2 times (23%) wider than South Africa's.
Highest point
- British Columbia's highest point is Mount Fairweather at 15,299 feet (4,663 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mount Fairweather is 3,980 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- British Columbia's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
British Columbia vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- British Columbia has a population of 5,658,528 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 11.2 times larger than British Columbia's.
Population density
- British Columbia: 15.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- South Africa's population density is 8.6 times (758%) higher than British Columbia's.
Biggest city
- British Columbia's biggest city is Vancouver with 662,248 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 7.3 times (625%) larger than Vancouver's.
Largest metro area
- British Columbia's largest metropolitan area is Vancouver CMA (2,642,825 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 2.7 times (168%) larger than Vancouver CMA's.
History
- British Columbia: Joined Confederation on July 20, 1871.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, British Columbia is the older of the two by 39 years.
British Columbia vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- British Columbia's GDP is $313.3 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 1.4 times (36%) larger than British Columbia's.
GDP per capita
- British Columbia: $55,241 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- British Columbia's GDP per capita is 8.4 times (737%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
British Columbia official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All British Columbia 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.