Ethiopia vs South Africa: Surface area
Ethiopia
1.14 million sq. km
in 2023
South Africa
1.22 million sq. km
in 2023
Ethiopia rank
26th
South Africa rank
24th
Surface area over time
- Ethiopia
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 1.22 million sq. km against 1.14 million sq. km in Ethiopia, a difference of 82,850 sq. km.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Ethiopia's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was Ethiopia ahead.
Ethiopia ranks 26th and South Africa ranks 24th of 215 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ethiopia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.22 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 2,810 sq. km | Ethiopia |
| 1970s | 1.22 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 2,810 sq. km | Ethiopia |
| 1980s | 1.22 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 2,810 sq. km | Ethiopia |
| 1990s | 1.14 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 79,510 sq. km | South Africa |
| 2000s | 1.12 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 95,626 sq. km | South Africa |
| 2010s | 1.14 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 82,850 sq. km | South Africa |
| 2020s | 1.14 million sq. km | 1.22 million sq. km | 82,850 sq. km | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher surface area, Ethiopia or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 1.22 million sq. km against 1.14 million sq. km in Ethiopia as of 2023.
- What is the difference in surface area between Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 82,850 sq. km, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do Ethiopia and South Africa rank globally for surface area?
- Ethiopia ranks 26th and South Africa ranks 24th of 215 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Surface area (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.