The map above shows Puerto Rico and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Puerto Rico vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Puerto Rico has a land area of 3,424 square miles (8,868 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 136.9 times larger than Puerto Rico's.
Total area: Puerto Rico: 3,515 square miles (9,104 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 134.1 times larger than Puerto Rico's.
Length: Puerto Rico is 67 miles (107 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 15.7 times longer than Puerto Rico's.
Width: Puerto Rico spans 174 miles (279 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 5.8 times (482%) wider than Puerto Rico's.
Highest point: Puerto Rico's highest point is Cerro de Punta at 4,390 feet (1,338 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 6,929 feet higher than Cerro de Punta.
Lowest point: Puerto Rico'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.
Puerto Rico vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Puerto Rico has a population of 3,285,874 (2020), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 19.3 times larger than Puerto Rico's.
Population density: Puerto Rico: 959.7 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Puerto Rico's population density is 7.1 times (608%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Puerto Rico's biggest city is San Juan with 342,259 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 14.0 times larger than San Juan's.
Largest metro area: Puerto Rico's largest metropolitan area is San Juan metro area (2,233,177 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 3.2 times (217%) larger than San Juan metro area's.
History: Puerto Rico: A US territory since 1898; a commonwealth since 1952. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Puerto Rico is the older of the two by 12 years.
Puerto Rico vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Puerto Rico's GDP is $129.0 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 3.3 times (231%) larger than Puerto Rico's.
GDP per capita: Puerto Rico: $40,650 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Puerto Rico's GDP per capita is 6.2 times (516%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Puerto Rico official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Puerto Rico 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.