The land mass – usually measured in square miles or kilometers – of a country determines how big the country is based on the area it covers. So when a country A is said to be bigger than a country B it means country A has more land mass than country B.
Nigeria and South Africa are the first and third-biggest economies in Africa respectively, though the former is much more populated than the later. But in terms of land mass, which country is bigger between Nigeria and South Africa? For someone curious that want to get an answer to this question, this article has been written for you. You’ll find a detailed answer to this question right in this article.
Nigeria and South Africa: Which is Bigger in Land Mass?
In terms of land mass, South Africa is bigger than Nigeria. South Africa’s total land mass is approximately 1,219,090 square kilometers while Nigeria’s total land is approximately 923,768 square kilometers. Going by these figures, South Africa is 1.3 times bigger than Nigeria, and in terms of percentage it is 32% larger than Nigeria.
South Africa is a country located in the southernmost part of the African continent. The country has a land mass of approximately 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square miles) and bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. South Africa has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (Legislative), and Bloemfontein (Judicial). Johannesburg, with a land mass of 1,645 square kilometers, is South Africa’s largest city.
Though, in terms of land mass, South Africa is bigger than Nigeria but it is only home to over 60 million people – which makes it way less populated when compared to Nigeria.
Nigeria is a country situated in the West African region of the African continent. The country has a land mass of 923,768 square kilometers (356,669 square miles) and bordered by Cameroon, Chad, Benin Republic, and Niger. Nigeria’s capital city is Abuja which is also called the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Niger State, with a land mass of 76, 363 square kilometers, is the largest state in Nigeria.
In terms of land mass, Nigeria is smaller to South Africa but when it comes to population Nigeria is way bigger than South Africa. With over 200 million people, Nigeria is about three and the half times bigger than South Africa.
Which country has the highest land mass in Africa?
Algeria is the biggest country in Africa in terms of land mass. With a total land size that exceeds 2.38 million square kilometers, Algeria is the African country with the highest land mass. The Democratic Republic of the Congo with a total land size of 2.34 million square kilometers and Sudan with a total area of around 1.86 million square kilometers have the second and third highest land mass in Africa respectively.
Is Lagos bigger than South Africa?
No, Lagos is not bigger than South Africa. With a population of over 60 million people, South Africa is three times bigger than Lagos which has about 21 million people.
Which country in Africa is the second largest in land size?
Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the second largest country in the African continent. DR Congo has a total land mass or size of 2,344,858 km² which puts it second behind Algeria that has a total land size of 2.38 million square kilometers.
Why is Nigeria called the giant of Africa?
Nigeria is often called the Giant of Africa due to its large population and economy – which is currently the biggest in Africa and has been one of the biggest over the years. Also, Nigeria is considered to be an emerging market by the World Bank.
What are the 3 smallest countries in Africa?
By size, the three smallest countries in Africa are:
- Seychelles (451 square kilometers)
- Sao Tome and Principe (964 square kilometers)
- Mauritius (2040 square kilometers)
Is Nigeria still the largest economy in Africa?
Yes, Nigeria is still the largest economy in Africa. As of 2021, Nigeria has the highest GDP in Africa which stand at $514.05 billion. Egypt is the country that has the second-highest GDP size in Africa which stand at $394.28 billion while South Africa has the third-highest GDP size at $329.53 billion.
Conclusion
Nigeria and South Africa being the biggest and third biggest economies in Africa respectively are often compared economically and in other areas. When it comes down to the country that has the biggest land mass between these two countries, South Africa come out on top. With a total land size or area of 2.38 million square kilometers, South Africa is 1.3 times of 32% larger than Nigeria which has a total land area of 923,768 square kilometers.