The map above shows Kansas and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kansas vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Kansas has a land area of 81,759 square miles (211,754 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 5.7 times (474%) larger than Kansas'.
Total area: Kansas: 82,278 square miles (213,100 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 5.7 times (473%) larger than Kansas'.
Length: Kansas is 207 miles (334 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 5.1 times (407%) longer than Kansas'.
Width: Kansas spans 401 miles (645 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.5 times (152%) wider than Kansas'.
Highest point: Kansas's highest point is Mount Sunflower at 4,040 feet (1,231 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 7,279 feet higher than Mount Sunflower.
Lowest point: Kansas's lowest point is Verdigris River at 679 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 679 feet lower.
Kansas vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Kansas has a population of 2,970,606 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 21.4 times larger than Kansas'.
Population density: Kansas: 36.3 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 3.7 times (273%) higher than Kansas'.
Biggest city: Kansas's biggest city is Wichita with 400,991 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 12.0 times larger than Wichita's.
Largest metro area: Kansas's largest metropolitan area is Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (2,253,579 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 3.1 times (214%) larger than Kansas City, MO-KS metro area's.
History: Kansas: Admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, as the 34th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Kansas is the older of the two by 49 years.
Kansas vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Kansas's GDP is $230.5 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 1.9 times (85%) larger than Kansas'.
GDP per capita: Kansas: $77,601 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Kansas' GDP per capita is 11.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Kansas: $65,856 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Kansas' average income is 10.5 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Kansas official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kansas 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.