The map above shows Ireland and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Ireland vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- Ireland has a land area of 26,596 square miles (68,883 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 17.6 times larger than Ireland's.
Total area
- Ireland: 27,133 square miles (70,273 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 17.4 times larger than Ireland's.
Length
- Ireland is 287 miles (462 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 3.7 times (266%) longer than Ireland's.
Width
- Ireland spans 191 miles (308 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 5.3 times (430%) wider than Ireland's.
Highest point
- Ireland's highest point is Carrauntoohil at 3,406 feet (1,038 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mafadi is 7,913 feet higher than Carrauntoohil.
Lowest point
- Ireland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Ireland vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- Ireland has a population of 5,525,600 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 11.5 times larger than Ireland's.
Population density
- Ireland: 207.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- Ireland's population density is 1.5 times (53%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- Ireland's biggest city is Dublin with 592,713 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 8.1 times (710%) larger than Dublin's.
Largest metro area
- Ireland's largest metropolitan area is Greater Dublin Area (2,082,605 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 3.4 times (240%) larger than Greater Dublin Area's.
History
- Ireland: Independent since December 6, 1922, as the Irish Free State; a republic since 1949.
- 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 12 years.
Ireland vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- Ireland's GDP is $721.7 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- Ireland's economic output is 1.7 times (69%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- Ireland: $131,593 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- Ireland's GDP per capita is 19.9 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- Ireland: $87,360 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- Ireland's average income is 13.9 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Ireland official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All Ireland 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.