Argentina and South Africa Economies: A Side-by-Side Table Comparison

Argentina and South Africa present a fascinating comparison. South Africa’s population is about 1.3 times larger, while Argentina’s land area is over twice as expansive. Economically, Argentina boasts a higher GDP and per capita income, yet South Africa shows greater income inequality and military spending.

Basic Indicators

Indicator	Argentina	South Africa	Comparison
Population source (2022 data), updated 2024	46.23 million (32nd)	59.89 million (23rd)	South Africa’s population is approximately 1.29 times larger than Argentina’s.
Surface area (sq. km) source (2022 data), updated 2024	2.78 million sq. km (8th)	1.22 million sq. km (24th)	Argentina is 2.28 times larger than South Africa.
GDP source (2022 data), updated 2024	631.13B USD (22nd)	405.27B USD (37th)	Argentina’s total GDP is 1.56 times larger than South Africa’s.
GDP per capita source (2022 data), updated 2024	$13,651 (64th)	6,766 USD (94th)	Argentina’s GDP per capita is roughly 102% higher than South Africa’s, with Argentinians producing about $6,884 more per person annually.

Economic Indexes

Index	Argentina	South Africa	Comparison
HDI (Human Development Index) source (2022 data), updated 2024	0.849 (48th)	0.717 (103rd)	Argentina’s HDI is 0.849 (high), while South Africa’s is 0.717 (medium). Argentina’s score is 0.132 higher, indicating significantly better human development overall.
Index of Economic Freedom source (2024 data)	49.9 (132nd)	55.3 (101st)	Argentina’s Index of Economic Freedom is 10% lower than South Africa’s, 5.4 points less.
GINI source (2022 data), updated 2024	42 (2021 est.)	63 (2014 est.)	With a 50% higher Gini coefficient, South Africa has a higher degree of income inequality than Argentina.

International trade _{source(2023 data), updated 2024}

Indicator	Argentina	South Africa
Total imports	92.57B USD	123.54B
Imports % of GDP	15.35%	31.52%
Main import partners	China 21%, Brazil 20%, US 14%, Germany 3%, Paraguay 2%	China 21%, Germany 9%, India 7%, US 5%, Saudi Arabia 4%
Main import items	refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, fertilizers, cars	refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment
Total exports	83.36B USD	124.73B
Exports % of GDP	16.30%	33.54%
Main export Partners	Brazil 15%, China 9%, US 8%, Chile 6%, India 5%	China 16%, US 7%, Germany 7%, India 6%, Japan 6%
Main export items	soybean meal, corn, soybean oil, wheat, trucks	gold, platinum, coal, cars, diamonds

Argentina’s imports are 25% less than South Africa’s, and Argentina’s imports make up 16% less of its GDP compared to South Africa. Argentina’s exports are $83.36B, mainly soy and corn, while South Africa’s are $124.73B, focusing on gold and diamonds.

Military Power _{source (2023 data), updated 2024}

Indicator	Argentina	South Africa
Military expenditure	3.1B USD	2.8B USD
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.41%	0.74%
Active military	72k	65k
Active military per 1,000 capita	2.3	1.5

Argentina’s military expenditure is approximately 12% higher than South Africa’s, but it allocates a smaller percentage of its GDP to defense compared to South Africa’s significantly higher commitment.