The map above shows New Zealand and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
New Zealand vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- New Zealand has a land area of 102,138 square miles (264,537 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 4.6 times (359%) larger than New Zealand's.
Total area
- New Zealand: 103,799 square miles (268,838 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 4.5 times (354%) larger than New Zealand's.
Length
- New Zealand is 1,185 miles (1,908 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- New Zealand's north-south length is 1.1 times (13%) longer than South Africa's.
Width
- New Zealand spans 969 miles (1,559 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- New Zealand and South Africa have about the same east-west width.
Highest point
- New Zealand's highest point is Aoraki / Mount Cook at 12,218 feet (3,724 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Aoraki / Mount Cook is 899 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- New Zealand's lowest point is Taieri Plains at -7 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- New Zealand's lowest point is 7 feet lower.
New Zealand vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- New Zealand has a population of 5,357,300 (2026), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 11.9 times larger than New Zealand's.
Population density
- New Zealand: 52.5 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- South Africa's population density is 2.6 times (158%) higher than New Zealand's.
Largest metro area
- New Zealand's largest metropolitan area is Auckland Region (1,715,600 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 4.1 times (313%) larger than Auckland Region's.
History
- New Zealand: A dominion from September 26, 1907; fully independent by statute in 1947.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, New Zealand is the older of the two by 3 years.
New Zealand vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- New Zealand's GDP is $264.1 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 1.6 times (62%) larger than New Zealand's.
GDP per capita
- New Zealand: $49,591 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- New Zealand's GDP per capita is 7.5 times (652%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- New Zealand: $46,630 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- New Zealand's average income is 7.4 times (644%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
New Zealand official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All New Zealand 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.