The map above shows South Africa and Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Africa vs Wales Geography
Land area
- South Africa has a land area of 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²), while Wales has 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 58.4 times larger than Wales'.
Total area
- South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²) vs Wales: 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 58.8 times larger than Wales'.
Length
- South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km) long from north to south; Wales is 149 miles (239 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 7.0 times (605%) longer than Wales'.
Width
- South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km) east to west; Wales spans 111 miles (179 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 9.1 times (812%) wider than Wales'.
Highest point
- South Africa's highest point is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m); Wales's is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 3,560 feet (1,085 m).
- Mafadi is 7,759 feet higher than Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
Lowest point
- South Africa's lowest point is Indian Ocean at 0 feet; Wales's is Irish Sea at 0 feet.
- Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
South Africa vs Wales Population and History
Population
- South Africa has a population of 63,522,380 (2026), while Wales has 3,105,000 (2022).
- South Africa's population is 20.5 times larger than Wales'.
Population density
- South Africa: 135.5 people per square mile vs Wales: 387.0.
- Wales' population density is 2.9 times (186%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- South Africa's biggest city is Johannesburg with 4,803,262 people; Wales's is Cardiff with 372,089.
- Johannesburg's population is 12.9 times larger than Cardiff's.
History
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- Wales: A country within the United Kingdom; formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1536.
- In its current form, Wales is the older of the two by 374 years.
South Africa vs Wales Economy
GDP
- South Africa's GDP is $427.2 billion (2025) vs Wales's $89.5 billion.
- South Africa's economic output is 4.8 times (377%) larger than Wales'.
GDP per capita
- South Africa: $6,598 per person vs Wales: $28,606.
- Wales' GDP per capita is 4.3 times (334%) higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
South Africa official website · Wales official website
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More Size Comparisons
All South Africa size comparisons · All Wales 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.