What is the difference in surface area between North Africa and South Africa?

455.70 million ha, with North Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for North Africa and South Africa?

51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Surface area (ha). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

North Africa vs South Africa: Surface area

North Africa

577.61 million ha

in 2011

South Africa

121.91 million ha

in 2011

North Africa rank

6th

South Africa rank

9th

Surface area over time

North Africa
South Africa

How they compare

North Africa currently reports 577.61 million ha against 121.91 million ha in South Africa, a difference of 455.70 million ha.

That makes North Africa's figure about 4.7 times South Africa's.

Across all 51 years both countries report, North Africa has been ahead every year.

North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 9th of 6 groups.

North Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	North Africa	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1960s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa
1970s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa
1980s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa
1990s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa
2000s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa
2010s	577.61 million ha	121.91 million ha	455.70 million ha	North Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher surface area, North Africa or South Africa?: North Africa, at 577.61 million ha against 121.91 million ha in South Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in surface area between North Africa and South Africa?: 455.70 million ha, with North Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for North Africa and South Africa?: 51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do North Africa and South Africa rank globally for surface area?: North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 9th of 6 groups.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Surface area (ha). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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North Africa vs South Africa: Surface area. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/surface-area-ha/north-africa/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Surface area (ha)
Unit: ha
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.