The map above shows Maine and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maine vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Maine has a land area of 30,845 square miles (79,888 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 15.2 times larger than Maine's.
Total area: Maine: 35,380 square miles (91,634 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 13.3 times larger than Maine's.
Length: Maine is 311 miles (501 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 3.4 times (238%) longer than Maine's.
Width: Maine spans 203 miles (327 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 5.0 times (399%) wider than Maine's.
Highest point: Maine's highest point is Mount Katahdin at 5,253 feet (1,601 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 6,066 feet higher than Mount Katahdin.
Lowest point: Maine'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.
Maine vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Maine has a population of 1,405,012 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 45.2 times larger than Maine's.
Population density: Maine: 45.6 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 3.0 times (197%) higher than Maine's.
Biggest city: Maine's biggest city is Portland with 69,568 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 69.0 times larger than Portland's.
Largest metro area: Maine's largest metropolitan area is Portland-South Portland, ME metro area (571,534 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 12.4 times larger than Portland-South Portland, ME metro area's.
History: Maine: Admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Maine is the older of the two by 90 years.
Maine vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Maine's GDP is $99.2 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 4.3 times (331%) larger than Maine's.
GDP per capita: Maine: $70,586 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Maine's GDP per capita is 10.7 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Maine: $68,932 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Maine's average income is 11.0 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Maine official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maine 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.