The map above shows Tennessee and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Tennessee vs South Africa Geography
Land area
- Tennessee has a land area of 41,224 square miles (106,770 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²).
- South Africa's land area is 11.4 times larger than Tennessee's.
Total area
- Tennessee: 42,130 square miles (109,116 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- South Africa's total area is 11.2 times larger than Tennessee's.
Length
- Tennessee is 191 miles (308 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km).
- South Africa's north-south length is 5.5 times (450%) longer than Tennessee's.
Width
- Tennessee spans 497 miles (800 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km).
- South Africa's east-west width is 2.0 times (104%) wider than Tennessee's.
Highest point
- Tennessee's highest point is Clingmans Dome at 6,624 feet (2,019 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m).
- Mafadi is 4,695 feet higher than Clingmans Dome.
Lowest point
- Tennessee's lowest point is Mississippi River at 178 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet.
- South Africa's lowest point is 178 feet lower.
Tennessee vs South Africa Population and History
Population
- Tennessee has a population of 7,227,750 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026).
- South Africa's population is 8.8 times (779%) larger than Tennessee's.
Population density
- Tennessee: 175.3 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5.
- Tennessee's population density is 1.3 times (29%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city
- Tennessee's biggest city is Nashville with 704,963 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262.
- Johannesburg's population is 6.8 times (581%) larger than Nashville's.
Largest metro area
- Tennessee's largest metropolitan area is Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area (2,150,553 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175).
- Johannesburg's population is 3.3 times (229%) larger than Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area's.
History
- Tennessee: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state.
- South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961.
- In its current form, Tennessee is the older of the two by 114 years.
Tennessee vs South Africa Economy
GDP
- Tennessee's GDP is $561.2 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion.
- Tennessee's economic output is 1.3 times (31%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita
- Tennessee: $77,645 per person vs South Africa: $6,598.
- Tennessee's GDP per capita is 11.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income
- Tennessee: $66,504 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income).
- Tennessee's average income is 10.6 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Tennessee official website · South Africa official website
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More Size Comparisons
All Tennessee 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.