The map above shows Kentucky and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kentucky vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Kentucky has a land area of 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 11.9 times larger than Kentucky's.
Total area: Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 11.7 times larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 4.1 times (309%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.4 times (142%) wider than Kentucky's.
Highest point: Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 7,185 feet higher than Black Mountain.
Lowest point: Kentucky's lowest point is Mississippi River at 270 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 270 feet lower.
Kentucky vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 13.8 times larger than Kentucky's.
Population density: Kentucky: 116.2 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 1.2 times (17%) higher than Kentucky's.
Biggest city: Kentucky's biggest city is Louisville with 640,796 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 7.5 times (650%) larger than Louisville's.
Largest metro area: Kentucky's largest metropolitan area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 3.1 times (207%) larger than Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area's.
History: Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 118 years.
Kentucky vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Kentucky's GDP is $295.4 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 1.4 times (45%) larger than Kentucky's.
GDP per capita: Kentucky: $64,375 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Kentucky's GDP per capita is 9.8 times (876%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Kentucky: $58,256 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Kentucky's average income is 9.3 times (829%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Kentucky official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kentucky 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.