The map above shows New Mexico and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
New Mexico vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- New Mexico has a land area of 121,313 square miles (314,198 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 3.9 times (287%) larger than New Mexico's.
Total area
- New Mexico: 121,593 square miles (314,925 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 3.9 times (288%) larger than New Mexico's.
Length
- New Mexico is 395 miles (635 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 2.7 times (166%) longer than New Mexico's.
Width
- New Mexico spans 498 miles (801 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 2.0 times (103%) wider than New Mexico's.
Highest point
- New Mexico's highest point is Wheeler Peak at 13,150 feet (4,008 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Wheeler Peak is 1,831 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- New Mexico's lowest point is Red Bluff Reservoir at 2,842 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- South Africa's lowest point is 2,842 feet lower.
New Mexico vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- New Mexico has a population of 2,130,256 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 29.8 times larger than New Mexico's.
Population density
- New Mexico: 17.6 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- South Africa's population density is 7.7 times (670%) higher than New Mexico's.
Biggest city
- New Mexico's biggest city is Albuquerque with 560,326 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 8.6 times (757%) larger than Albuquerque's.
Largest metro area
- New Mexico's largest metropolitan area is Albuquerque, NM metro area (926,303 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 7.6 times (664%) larger than Albuquerque, NM metro area's.
History
- New Mexico: Admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912, as the 47th state.
- 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 2 years.
New Mexico vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- New Mexico's GDP is $147.1 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 2.9 times (190%) larger than New Mexico's.
GDP per capita
- New Mexico: $69,046 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- New Mexico's GDP per capita is 10.5 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- New Mexico: $58,249 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- New Mexico's average income is 9.3 times (829%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
New Mexico official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All New Mexico 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.