The map above shows India and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
India vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- India has a land area of 1,147,956 square miles (2,973,193 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- India's land area is 2.4 times (145%) larger than South Africa's.
Total area
- India: 1,269,219 square miles (3,287,263 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- India's total area is 2.7 times (169%) larger than South Africa's.
Length
- India is 1,894 miles (3,049 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- India's north-south length is 1.8 times (80%) longer than South Africa's.
Width
- India spans 1,831 miles (2,947 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- India's east-west width is 1.8 times (81%) wider than South Africa's.
Highest point
- India's highest point is Kangchenjunga at 28,169 feet (8,586 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Kangchenjunga is 16,850 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- India's lowest point is Kuttanad at -7 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- India's lowest point is 7 feet lower.
India vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- India has a population of 1,429,404,000 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- India's population is 22.5 times larger than South Africa's.
Population density
- India: 1,245.2 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- India's population density is 9.2 times (819%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- India's biggest city is Delhi with 16,753,235 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Delhi's population is 3.5 times (249%) larger than Johannesburg's.
Largest metro area
- India's largest metropolitan area is Delhi (30,222,405 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Delhi's population is 4.3 times (327%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History
- India: Independent since August 15, 1947.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, South Africa is the older of the two by 37 years.
India vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- India's GDP is $3,956.1 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- India's economic output is 9.3 times (826%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- India: $2,703 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- South Africa's GDP per capita is 2.4 times (144%) higher than India's.
Average income
- India: $2,760 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- South Africa's average income is 2.3 times (127%) higher than India's.
Official Websites
India official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All India 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.