The map above shows France and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
France vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- France has a land area of 210,016 square miles (543,940 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 2.2 times (123%) larger than France's.
Total area
- France: 213,011 square miles (551,695 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 2.2 times (121%) larger than France's.
Length
- France is 742 miles (1,194 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 (42%) longer than France's.
Width
- France spans 818 miles (1,316 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 1.2 times (24%) wider than France's.
Highest point
- France's highest point is Mont Blanc at 15,778 feet (4,809 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mont Blanc is 4,459 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- France's lowest point is Etang de Lavalduc at -33 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- France's lowest point is 33 feet lower.
France vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- France has a population of 69,081,996 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- France's population is 1.1 times (9%) larger than South Africa's.
Population density
- France: 328.9 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- France's population density is 2.4 times (143%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- France's biggest city is Paris with 2,148,271 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 2.2 times (124%) larger than Paris'.
Largest metro area
- France's largest metropolitan area is Paris (9,381,921 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Paris' population is 1.3 times (33%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History
- France: An independent state since the Treaty of Verdun in 843; the current Fifth Republic dates from 1958.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, France is the older of the two by 1,067 years.
France vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- France's GDP is $3,366.3 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- France's economic output is 7.9 times (688%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- France: $48,986 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- France's GDP per capita is 7.4 times (642%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- France: $48,630 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- France's average income is 7.8 times (676%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
France official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All France 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.