The map above shows District of Columbia and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
District of Columbia vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- District of Columbia has a land area of 61 square miles (158 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 7,686.5 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area
- District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 6,898.5 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length
- District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 80.8 times longer than District of Columbia's.
Width
- District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 84.3 times wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point
- District of Columbia's highest point is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mafadi is 10,890 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point
- District of Columbia's lowest point is Potomac River at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
District of Columbia vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- District of Columbia has a population of 702,250 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 90.5 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density
- District of Columbia: 11,493.5 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- District of Columbia's population density is 84.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- District of Columbia's biggest city is Washington with 702,250 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 6.8 times (584%) larger than Washington's.
Largest metro area
- District of Columbia'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
- District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 120 years.
District of Columbia vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- District of Columbia's GDP is $184.3 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 2.3 times (132%) larger than District of Columbia's.
GDP per capita
- District of Columbia: $262,439 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 39.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- District of Columbia: $111,185 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- District of Columbia's average income is 17.7 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
District of Columbia official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All District of 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.