The map above shows Minnesota and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Minnesota vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Minnesota has a land area of 79,632 square miles (206,245 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 5.9 times (489%) larger than Minnesota's.
Total area: Minnesota: 86,943 square miles (225,182 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 5.4 times (442%) larger than Minnesota's.
Length: Minnesota is 408 miles (657 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.6 times (157%) longer than Minnesota's.
Width: Minnesota spans 360 miles (580 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 2.8 times (181%) wider than Minnesota's.
Highest point: Minnesota's highest point is Eagle Mountain at 2,292 feet (699 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 9,027 feet higher than Eagle Mountain.
Lowest point: Minnesota's lowest point is Lake Superior at 601 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. South Africa's lowest point is 601 feet lower.
Minnesota vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Minnesota has a population of 5,793,151 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 11.0 times larger than Minnesota's.
Population density: Minnesota: 72.7 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 1.9 times (86%) higher than Minnesota's.
Biggest city: Minnesota's biggest city is Minneapolis with 428,579 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 11.2 times larger than Minneapolis'.
Largest metro area: Minnesota's largest metropolitan area is Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area (3,757,952 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 1.9 times (88%) larger than Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area's.
History: Minnesota: Admitted to the Union on May 11, 1858, as the 32nd state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Minnesota is the older of the two by 52 years.
Minnesota vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Minnesota's GDP is $507.7 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Minnesota's economic output is 1.2 times (19%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Minnesota: $87,636 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Minnesota's GDP per capita is 13.3 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Minnesota: $75,603 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Minnesota's average income is 12.1 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Minnesota official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Minnesota 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.