The map above shows South Africa and Spain side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Africa vs Spain Geography
Land area
- South Africa has a land area of 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²), while Spain has 192,657 square miles (498,980 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 2.4 times (143%) larger than Spain's.
Total area
- South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²) vs Spain: 195,364 square miles (505,990 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 2.4 times (141%) larger than Spain's.
Length
- South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km) long from north to south; Spain is 546 miles (879 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 1.9 times (92%) longer than Spain's.
Width
- South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km) east to west; Spain spans 697 miles (1,122 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 1.5 times (45%) wider than Spain's.
Highest point
- South Africa's highest point is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m); Spain's is Teide (Tenerife) at 12,188 feet (3,715 m).
- Teide (Tenerife) is 869 feet higher than Mafadi.
Lowest point
- South Africa's lowest point is Indian Ocean at 0 feet; Spain's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
South Africa vs Spain Population and History
Population
- South Africa has a population of 63,522,380 (2026), while Spain has 49,801,559 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Spain's.
Population density
- South Africa: 135.5 people per square mile vs Spain: 258.5.
- Spain's population density is 1.9 times (91%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- South Africa's biggest city is Johannesburg with 4,803,262 people; Spain's is Madrid with 3,266,126.
- Johannesburg's population is 1.5 times (47%) larger than Madrid's.
Largest metro area
- South Africa's largest metropolitan area is Johannesburg (7,077,175 people) vs Spain's Madrid (6,497,000).
- Johannesburg's population is 1.1 times (9%) larger than Madrid's.
History
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- Spain: A unified kingdom since 1479; the current constitution dates from 1978.
- In its current form, Spain is the older of the two by 431 years.
South Africa vs Spain Economy
GDP
- South Africa's GDP is $427.2 billion (2025) vs Spain's $1,906.5 billion.
- Spain's economic output is 4.5 times (346%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- South Africa: $6,598 per person vs Spain: $38,627.
- Spain's GDP per capita is 5.9 times (485%) higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- South Africa: $6,270 vs Spain: $37,120 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- Spain's average income is 5.9 times (492%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
South Africa official website · Spain official website
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More Size Comparisons
All South Africa size comparisons · All Spain 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.