India vs South Africa: country comparison

A UN member state, or a continent's average.

The page updates.

In US dollars, spent in each country.

$100 spent in India buys about what

$180

buys in South Africa, at purchasing power parity

And $100 in South Africa buys what $55.45 buys in India. Prices across India's economy average 55% of South Africa's, so a dollar goes 80% further in India.

World Bank figures for 2025 unless another year is shown
MeasureIndiaSouth Africa
Economy
Population1.46 billion64.7 million
GDPUS dollars, market exchange rates$3.96 trillion$427 billion
GDP per personUS dollars$2,702$6,598
GDP per person at PPPInternational dollars$11,748$15,906
Prices
Price levelUS prices = 100%23%41%
A US dollar goes as far as$4.35 in the US$2.41 in the US
Income
Median income or consumptionPer person, international dollars$5.94 a day2023 survey · $2,168 a year · consumption$6.56 a day2022 survey · $2,394 a year · consumption
More figures: GDP at PPP, conversion factor and GNI
Gross national income is what residents earn, at home and abroad
MeasureIndiaSouth Africa
GDP at PPPInternational dollars$17.2 trillion$1.03 trillion
PPP conversion factorLocal currency per international dollar20.09Indian rupee7.420South African rand
GNI per person, Atlas methodUS dollars$2,760$6,270
GNI per person at PPPInternational dollars$11,600$15,600

World Bank income groups: India, lower middle income; South Africa, upper middle income.

GDP per person at PPP · 2000 to 2025, in constant 2021 international dollarsAdjusted for inflation, so recent years read lower than the current-dollar figures above.
  • India
  • South Africa
Year-by-year table
YearIndiaSouth Africa
2025$10,039$13,592
2024$9,416$13,598
2023$8,871$13,695
2022$8,347$13,767
2021$7,819$13,682
2020$7,187$13,251
2019$7,702$14,353
2018$7,493$14,554
2017$7,116$14,574
2016$6,741$14,501
2015$6,302$14,542
2014$5,905$14,643
2013$5,567$14,681
2012$5,304$14,564
2011$5,099$14,434
2010$4,914$14,165
2009$4,595$13,911
2008$4,322$14,298
2007$4,254$14,016
2006$4,011$13,444
2005$3,770$12,862
2004$3,551$12,341
2003$3,347$11,923
2002$3,157$11,698
2001$3,097$11,387
2000$3,010$11,184

India vs South Africa: country comparison by Points Frog ↗ · An educational estimate, not financial advice.