Nigeria
Quick context before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Federal Republic of Nigeria.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean.
CIA 2026
Matchup file
Nigeria vs South Africa
117 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
South Africa leads by 51 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
Grounded context for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
South Africa
Quick context before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of South Africa.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent.
CIA 2026
Analysis
South Africa leads in 84 of 117 shared metrics, while Nigeria leads in 33.
Nigeria's Broadband Access (%) is 66.3x that of South Africa (202 per 100 people vs 3.0 per 100 people).
Nigeria's Firms Making Informal Payments is 18.8x that of South Africa (29.44% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).
Nigeria's Firms Asked for Bribes is 13.6x that of South Africa (22.39% of firms vs 1.5% of firms).
Nigeria's Merchant Fleet Size is 7.4x that of South Africa (928 vs 110).
Nigeria's Renewable Energy (%) is 7.3x that of South Africa (80.3% vs 9.7%).
Key Comparisons
Broadband Access (%)Nigeria leads
Nigeria
202 per 100 people
South Africa
3.0 per 100 people
Firms Making Informal PaymentsNigeria leads
Nigeria
29.44% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
Firms Asked for BribesNigeria leads
Nigeria
22.39% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
Merchant Fleet SizeNigeria leads
Nigeria
928
South Africa
110
Renewable Energy (%)Nigeria leads
Nigeria
80.3%
South Africa
9.7%
GDP Growth RateNigeria leads
Nigeria
4.1%
South Africa
0.53%
All Metrics
Broadband Access (%)
NigeriaNigeria
202 per 100 people
South Africa
3.0 per 100 people
6633% higher
Firms Making Informal Payments
NigeriaNigeria
29.44% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
1879% higher
Firms Asked for Bribes
NigeriaNigeria
22.39% of firms
South Africa
1.5% of firms
1356% higher
Merchant Fleet Size
NigeriaNigeria
928
South Africa
110
744% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
NigeriaNigeria
80.3%
South Africa
9.7%
728% higher
GDP Growth Rate
NigeriaNigeria
4.1%
South Africa
0.53%
660% higher
Inflation Rate
NigeriaNigeria
33.2%
South Africa
4.4%
655% higher
Population Density
NigeriaNigeria
250.21 /km²
South Africa
52.11 /km²
380% higher
Population
NigeriaNigeria
244.34M
South Africa
61.09M
300% higher
Child Mortality
NigeriaNigeria
104.9 per 1k births
South Africa
34.7 per 1k births
202% higher
Informal Employment Share
NigeriaNigeria
93.14% of employed people
South Africa
34.81% of employed people
168% higher
Armed Forces Personnel
NigeriaNigeria
223.0K
South Africa
89.0K
151% higher
Infant Mortality
NigeriaNigeria
60.1 per 1k births
South Africa
24.4 per 1k births
146% higher
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
NigeriaNigeria
56.53 µg/m³
South Africa
23.75 µg/m³
138% higher
Fertility Rate
NigeriaNigeria
4.6 children/woman
South Africa
2.2 children/woman
106% higher
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
South AfricaNigeria
0.00 per 1M people
South Africa
3.5 per 1M people
100% lower
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
South AfricaNigeria
0.00 per 1M people
South Africa
0.15 per 1M people
97% lower
Solar Electricity Share
South AfricaNigeria
0.31%
South Africa
8.0%
96% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaNigeria
135.6 kWh/person
South Africa
3.2K kWh/person
96% lower
Birth Rate
NigeriaNigeria
33.56 per 1k
South Africa
17.21 per 1k
95% higher
Education Spending (% GDP)
South AfricaNigeria
0.32% of GDP
South Africa
6.0% of GDP
95% lower
Electric Generating Capacity
South AfricaNigeria
4.09M kW
South Africa
65.99M kW
94% lower
Foreign Patents
South AfricaNigeria
598
South Africa
9.2K
93% lower
CO2 Per Capita
South AfricaNigeria
0.58 t/person/yr
South Africa
6.9 t/person/yr
92% lower
Official Languages Count
South AfricaNigeria
1.0
South Africa
12
92% lower
Women in Parliament (%)
South AfricaNigeria
3.9%
South Africa
44.7%
91% lower
Youth Unemployment Rate
South AfricaNigeria
5.3% of youth labor force
South Africa
59.93% of youth labor force
91% lower
Unemployment Rate
South AfricaNigeria
3.0%
South Africa
33.17%
91% lower
Airports
South AfricaNigeria
51
South Africa
583
91% lower
Meat Consumption per Person
South AfricaNigeria
7.2 kg/person/yr
South Africa
60.03 kg/person/yr
88% lower
Railway Length
South AfricaNigeria
3.8K km
South Africa
30.4K km
88% lower
Water Stress (%)
South AfricaNigeria
5.6%
South Africa
47.12%
88% lower
Tourism Revenue
South AfricaNigeria
$321,000,000
South Africa
$2,716,000,000
88% lower
Irrigated Land
South AfricaNigeria
2.2K km²
South Africa
16.7K km²
87% lower
Milk Consumption per Person
South AfricaNigeria
7.9 kg/person/yr
South Africa
55.75 kg/person/yr
86% lower
Tobacco Use Prevalence
South AfricaNigeria
3.2% of adults
South Africa
23.6% of adults
86% lower
Smoking Rate
South AfricaNigeria
3.3%
South Africa
20.7%
84% lower
Health Spending Per Capita
South AfricaNigeria
$90.92
South Africa
$569.84
84% lower
Electricity Generation
South AfricaNigeria
40.13 TWh
South Africa
244.81 TWh
84% lower
Beer Consumption
South AfricaNigeria
0.52 L/person/yr
South Africa
3.1 L/person/yr
83% lower
Energy Use (Per Capita)
South AfricaNigeria
333.06 kg oil eq/person
South Africa
1.9K kg oil eq/person
83% lower
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
South AfricaNigeria
2.0 sites
South Africa
12 sites
83% lower
Suicide Rate
South AfricaNigeria
5.0 per 100k
South Africa
22.3 per 100k
78% lower
Domestic Patents
South AfricaNigeria
410
South Africa
1.8K
77% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
South AfricaNigeria
19.6% of GDP
South Africa
79.45% of GDP
75% lower
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
South AfricaNigeria
0.00 per 100k people
South Africa
0.01 per 100k people
75% lower
Capital Elevation
South AfricaNigeria
360 m
South Africa
1.4K m
74% lower
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
South AfricaNigeria
13.57 per 100k
South Africa
50.46 per 100k
73% lower
GNI Per Capita
South AfricaNigeria
$1,700
South Africa
$6,110
72% lower
Coastline Length
South AfricaNigeria
853 km
South Africa
2.8K km
70% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
South AfricaNigeria
131.91 Mt CO2e
South Africa
440.17 Mt CO2e
70% lower
Teen Birth Rate
NigeriaNigeria
86.43 per 1k
South Africa
51.56 per 1k
68% higher
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
South AfricaNigeria
5.0 days/yr
South Africa
15 days/yr
67% lower
Credit Card Ownership
South AfricaNigeria
3.2% of adults
South Africa
9.7% of adults
67% lower
Air Passengers
South AfricaNigeria
5.27M
South Africa
15.45M
66% lower
Forest Coverage (%)
NigeriaNigeria
23.21%
South Africa
13.97%
66% higher
Food Waste per Person
NigeriaNigeria
154.26 kg/person/yr
South Africa
93.36 kg/person/yr
65% higher
Obesity Rate
South AfricaNigeria
10.84%
South Africa
30.03%
64% lower
Homicide Rate
South AfricaNigeria
15.75 per 100k
South Africa
43.72 per 100k
64% lower
Dependency Ratio
NigeriaNigeria
78.77% of working-age pop.
South Africa
48.31% of working-age pop.
63% higher
Firms with Female Top Manager
South AfricaNigeria
14.27% of firms
South Africa
38.51% of firms
63% lower
Spirits Consumption
South AfricaNigeria
0.41 L/person/yr
South Africa
1.1 L/person/yr
62% lower
Nurses & Midwives
NigeriaNigeria
1.7 per 1k
South Africa
1.0 per 1k
62% higher
Shipping Traffic
South AfricaNigeria
1.57M
South Africa
4.05M
61% lower
Insufficient Physical Activity
South AfricaNigeria
18.16% of adults
South Africa
44.8% of adults
59% lower
Youth Population (%)
NigeriaNigeria
41.01%
South Africa
25.88%
58% higher
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
South AfricaNigeria
71 per 100 people
South Africa
167 per 100 people
57% lower
Safe Drinking Water (%)
South AfricaNigeria
29.9%
South Africa
68.01%
56% lower
Political Corruption Index
NigeriaNigeria
0.83
South Africa
0.54
55% higher
Elderly Population (%)
South AfricaNigeria
3.0%
South Africa
6.7%
54% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
South AfricaNigeria
0.38 per 1k
South Africa
0.79 per 1k
52% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
South AfricaNigeria
2.7%
South Africa
5.7%
52% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
South AfricaNigeria
0.31
South Africa
0.63
51% lower
Health Spending (% GDP)
South AfricaNigeria
4.3% of GDP
South Africa
8.8% of GDP
51% lower
Internet Users (%)
South AfricaNigeria
39%
South Africa
76%
49% lower
Alcohol Consumption
South AfricaNigeria
3.8 L/adult/yr
South Africa
7.1 L/adult/yr
47% lower
Protected Land (%)
NigeriaNigeria
13.9%
South Africa
9.5%
46% higher
Death Rate
NigeriaNigeria
9.4 per 1k
South Africa
6.6 per 1k
44% higher
Scientific Publications
South AfricaNigeria
9.4K
South Africa
16.7K
43% lower
Water Withdrawal
South AfricaNigeria
12.47 B m³
South Africa
21.11 B m³
41% lower
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
South AfricaNigeria
$9,086.88
South Africa
$15,456.2
41% lower
Sanitation Access (%)
South AfricaNigeria
47.9%
South Africa
77.38%
38% lower
Corruption Perceptions Index
South AfricaNigeria
26 pts
South Africa
41 pts
37% lower
Median Age
South AfricaNigeria
17.8 years
South Africa
28.2 years
37% lower
GDP (Nominal)
South AfricaNigeria
$252,261,880,141.15
South Africa
$401,144,998,373.59
37% lower
Electricity Carbon Intensity
South AfricaNigeria
455.71 gCO2/kWh
South Africa
699.29 gCO2/kWh
35% lower
Border Neighbors
South AfricaNigeria
4.0
South Africa
6.0
33% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
South AfricaNigeria
0.51
South Africa
0.74
32% lower
Electricity Access (%)
South AfricaNigeria
61.2%
South Africa
87.7%
30% lower
Highest Elevation
South AfricaNigeria
2.4K m
South Africa
3.5K m
30% lower
Road Traffic Death Rate
South AfricaNigeria
17.2 per 100k
South Africa
24.5 per 100k
30% lower
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
South AfricaNigeria
0.43% of GDP
South Africa
0.58% of GDP
26% lower
Forest Area
NigeriaNigeria
211.4K km²
South Africa
169.4K km²
25% higher
Land Area
South AfricaNigeria
910.8K km²
South Africa
1.21M km²
25% lower
Human Development Index
South AfricaNigeria
0.56
South Africa
0.74
24% lower
Adult Literacy Rate
South AfricaNigeria
70.41%
South Africa
91.15%
23% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
South AfricaNigeria
33.5 hrs/week
South Africa
42.39 hrs/week
21% lower
Military Spending
South AfricaNigeria
0.56% of GDP
South Africa
0.70% of GDP
21% lower
Hypertension Prevalence
South AfricaNigeria
36.1% of adults
South Africa
44.4% of adults
19% lower
Digital Payments Used
South AfricaNigeria
54.48% of adults
South Africa
67.17% of adults
19% lower
Life Expectancy
South AfricaNigeria
54.5 years
South Africa
66.1 years
18% lower
Land Border Length
South AfricaNigeria
4.5K km
South Africa
5.2K km
15% lower
Women's Political Empowerment
South AfricaNigeria
0.73
South Africa
0.83
12% lower
Can Raise Emergency Money
NigeriaNigeria
75.04% of adults
South Africa
68.2% of adults
10% higher
Firms Hit by Power Outages
South AfricaNigeria
82.49% of firms
South Africa
92.02% of firms
10% lower
Agricultural Land (%)
South AfricaNigeria
76.2%
South Africa
79.42%
4% lower
Mobile Money Accounts
NigeriaNigeria
32.79% of adults
South Africa
31.62% of adults
4% higher
Life Evaluation Score
South AfricaNigeria
4.8 pts
South Africa
5.0 pts
4% lower
Women in Senior Management
South AfricaNigeria
37.86% of managers
South Africa
39.27% of managers
4% lower
Seafood Consumption per Person
NigeriaNigeria
6.7 kg/person/yr
South Africa
6.5 kg/person/yr
2% higher
Urban Population (%)
South AfricaNigeria
62.98%
South Africa
63.69%
1% lower
Freedom of Expression Index
NigeriaNigeria
0.85
South Africa
0.84
1% higher
Time Zones Count
NigeriaNigeria
3.0 time zones
South Africa
3.0 time zones
equal
Coal Electricity Share
South AfricaNigeria
0%
South Africa
81.36%
ranked lower
Wind Electricity Share
South AfricaNigeria
0%
South Africa
4.7%
ranked lower
Lowest Elevation
NigeriaNigeria
0 m
South Africa
0 m
ranked higher
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
NigeriaNigeria
5.1% of GDP
South Africa
-0.5% of GDP
ranked higher
Build a Matchup
1 country match available.
vs1 country match available.
Next move