The map above shows Illinois and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 8.4 times (745%) larger than Illinois'.
Total area
- Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 8.1 times (714%) larger than Illinois'.
Length
- Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 2.7 times (169%) longer than Illinois'.
Width
- Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 3.6 times (258%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point
- Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mafadi is 10,087 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point
- Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- South Africa's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Illinois vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 5.0 times (400%) larger than Illinois'.
Population density
- Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- Illinois' population density is 1.7 times (69%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 1.8 times (77%) larger than Chicago's.
Largest metro area
- Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 1.3 times (33%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History
- Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 92 years.
Illinois vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- Illinois' economic output is 2.7 times (169%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- Illinois: $90,330 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- Illinois' GDP per capita is 13.7 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- Illinois: $74,522 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- Illinois' average income is 11.9 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All Illinois 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.