The map above shows Texas and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Texas vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Texas has a land area of 261,259 square miles (676,657 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 1.8 times (79%) larger than Texas'.
Total area: Texas: 268,599 square miles (695,668 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 1.8 times (76%) larger than Texas'.
Length: Texas is 808 miles (1,300 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 1.3 times (30%) longer than Texas'.
Width: Texas spans 777 miles (1,250 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 1.3 times (30%) wider than Texas'.
Highest point: Texas's highest point is Guadalupe Peak at 8,730 feet (2,661 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 2,589 feet higher than Guadalupe Peak.
Lowest point: Texas's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Texas vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Texas has a population of 31,290,831 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 2.0 times (103%) larger than Texas'.
Population density: Texas: 119.8 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 1.1 times (13%) higher than Texas'.
Biggest city: Texas's biggest city is Houston with 2,390,125 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 2.0 times (101%) larger than Houston's.
Largest metro area: Texas's largest metropolitan area is Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area (8,344,032 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area's population is 1.2 times (18%) larger than Johannesburg's.
History: Texas: Admitted to the Union on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Texas is the older of the two by 65 years.
Texas vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Texas's GDP is $2,769.8 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Texas' economic output is 6.5 times (548%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Texas: $88,517 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Texas' GDP per capita is 13.4 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Texas: $69,823 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Texas' average income is 11.1 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Texas official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Texas 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.