The map above shows Germany and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Germany vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Germany has a land area of 134,623 square miles (348,672 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 3.5 times (248%) larger than Germany's.
Total area: Germany: 138,069 square miles (357,596 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 3.4 times (241%) larger than Germany's.
Length: Germany is 531 miles (854 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.0 times (98%) longer than Germany's.
Width: Germany spans 397 miles (639 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.5 times (155%) wider than Germany's.
Highest point: Germany's highest point is Zugspitze at 9,718 feet (2,962 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 1,601 feet higher than Zugspitze.
Lowest point: Germany's lowest point is Neuendorf-Sachsenbande at -13 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Germany's lowest point is 13 feet lower.
Germany vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Germany has a population of 83,467,117 (2025), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). Germany's population is 1.3 times (31%) larger than South Africa's.
Population density: Germany: 620.0 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Germany's population density is 4.6 times (358%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Germany's biggest city is Berlin with 3,878,100 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 1.2 times (24%) larger than Berlin's.
Largest metro area: Germany's largest metropolitan area is Berlin metropolitan region (6,200,000 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 1.1 times (14%) larger than Berlin metropolitan region's.
History: Germany: Unified on January 18, 1871; the current Federal Republic dates from 1949, reunified in 1990. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Germany is the older of the two by 39 years.
Germany vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Germany's GDP is $5,050.9 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Germany's economic output is 11.8 times larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Germany: $60,496 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Germany's GDP per capita is 9.2 times (817%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Germany: $60,200 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Germany's average income is 9.6 times (860%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Germany official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Germany 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.