The map above shows California and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 3.0 times (201%) larger than California's.
Total area
- California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 2.9 times (188%) larger than California's.
Length
- California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 1.4 times (38%) longer than California's.
Width
- California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 1.4 times (43%) wider than California's.
Highest point
- California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mount Whitney is 3,165 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- California's lowest point is 279 feet lower.
California vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 1.6 times (61%) larger than California's.
Population density
- California: 253.0 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- California's population density is 1.9 times (87%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- California's biggest city is Los Angeles with 3,878,704 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 1.2 times (24%) larger than Los Angeles'.
Largest metro area
- California's largest metropolitan area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (12,927,614 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area's population is 1.8 times (83%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History
- California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, California is the older of the two by 60 years.
California vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- California's economic output is 9.5 times (848%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- California: $102,662 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- California's GDP per capita is 15.6 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- California: $86,232 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- California's average income is 13.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
California official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All California 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.