The map above shows Scotland and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Scotland vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Scotland has a land area of 30,090 square miles (77,933 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 15.6 times larger than Scotland's.
Total area: Scotland: 30,090 square miles (77,933 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 15.7 times larger than Scotland's.
Length: Scotland is 440 miles (708 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.4 times (139%) longer than Scotland's.
Width: Scotland spans 313 miles (504 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 3.2 times (223%) wider than Scotland's.
Highest point: Scotland's highest point is Ben Nevis at 4,413 feet (1,345 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 6,906 feet higher than Ben Nevis.
Lowest point: Scotland'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.
Scotland vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Scotland has a population of 5,480,000 (2022), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 11.6 times larger than Scotland's.
Population density: Scotland: 182.1 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Scotland's population density is 1.3 times (34%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Scotland's biggest city is Glasgow with 632,350 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 7.6 times (660%) larger than Glasgow's.
History: Scotland: A country within the United Kingdom; a kingdom from the 9th century until the 1707 union with England. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Scotland is the older of the two by 1,067 years.
Scotland vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Scotland's GDP is $191.7 billion (2022) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 2.2 times (123%) larger than Scotland's.
GDP per capita: Scotland: $34,973 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Scotland's GDP per capita is 5.3 times (430%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Scotland official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Scotland 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.