The map above shows Colorado and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Colorado vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Colorado has a land area of 103,637 square miles (268,419 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 4.5 times (352%) larger than Colorado's.
Total area: Colorado: 104,095 square miles (269,605 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 4.5 times (353%) larger than Colorado's.
Length: Colorado is 467 miles (751 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.2 times (125%) longer than Colorado's.
Width: Colorado spans 387 miles (622 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.6 times (161%) wider than Colorado's.
Highest point: Colorado's highest point is Mount Elbert at 14,422 feet (4,396 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mount Elbert is 3,103 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point: Colorado's lowest point is Arikaree River at 3,326 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 3,326 feet lower.
Colorado vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Colorado has a population of 5,957,493 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 10.7 times larger than Colorado's.
Population density: Colorado: 57.5 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 2.4 times (136%) higher than Colorado's.
Biggest city: Colorado's biggest city is Denver with 729,019 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 6.6 times (559%) larger than Denver's.
Largest metro area: Colorado's largest metropolitan area is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area (3,052,498 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 2.3 times (132%) larger than Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area's.
History: Colorado: Admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876, as the 38th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Colorado is the older of the two by 34 years.
Colorado vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Colorado's GDP is $557.6 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Colorado's economic output is 1.3 times (31%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Colorado: $93,602 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Colorado's GDP per capita is 14.2 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Colorado: $83,055 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Colorado's average income is 13.2 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Colorado official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Colorado 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.