How Big Is South Africa?

how big is south africa
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How Big Is South Africa - Interesting Facts

If you are planning a trip to South Africa, you’re probably interested in learning about the country. For example, what’s the culture like, how’s the weather, what kind of money/currency is used, what to wear in South Africa, what languages are spoken… and how big is South Africa.

Here’s an outline of South Africa’s size in terms of its surface, land, and water area, plus South Africa’s size compared with other countries.

How big is South African

Surface Area

471,445 square miles / 1,221,037 square kilometers

Land Area

468,910 square miles / 1,214,470 square kilometers
The land area is 99.62% of South Africa’s surface area.

Water Area

1,780 square miles / 4,620 square kilometers
The water area is 0.38% of South Africa’s surface area. There are no natural lakes.

South Africa's size compared to other countries
How Big Is South Africa Compared To Other Countries

South Africa is:

  • The 24th-largest country in the world;
  • The ninth-biggest country in Africa;
  • Bigger than every country in Europe;
  • Except for Alaska, South Africa is bigger than every state in the USA;

Compared To Other Countries, South Africa is:

  • slightly larger than Colombia
  • twice the size of France
  • three times the size of Japan
  • four times the size of Italy
  • five times the size of the United Kingdom
  • ten times the size of North Korea
  • half the size of Algeria
  • a third the size of India
  • a sixth the size of Australia
  • a seventh the size of Brazil
  • an eighth the size of China
  • one 14th the size of Russia

Data provided by UN Statistics.

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About The Author

Hi! We’re the Cheltens’. We visit South Africa 1-2 times per year. We want to share our experiences with you so that you may make educated decisions when you plan your next trip to the rainbow nation.

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