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Navy comparison: Flag of Egypt Egypt vs Flag of South Africa South Africa

Egypt's 320-ship navy outnumbers South Africa's 49 vessels (6.5:1 advantage). Of these, 318 and 49 are in active service respectively.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Flag of Egypt EgyptWorld #11 36.7
SEAS Index / 100

Egypt leads on 6 of 6 categories

Flag of South Africa South AfricaWorld #42 17.8
  • 8 Submarinesweight ×45 3
  • 13 Frigatesweight ×30 4
  • 7 Corvettesweight ×15 0
  • 2 Amphibiousweight ×12 0
  • 12 Mine warfareweight ×5 2
  • 233 Patrol boatsweight ×2 33
  • 21 Support shipsnot scored 7
  • 22 Other shipsnot scored 0
Egypt South Africa Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
Egypt South Africa Ratio
Official name Egyptian Navy South African Navy
Total ships 320 49 🇪🇬 6.5×
Active ships 318 49 🇪🇬 6.5×
Submarines 8 3 🇪🇬 2.7×
Principal surface combatants 13 4 🇪🇬 3.2×
Amphibious ships 2 0 🇪🇬
Show full breakdown · 4 more rowsHide the 4 extra rows
Corvettes 7 0 🇪🇬
Patrol boats 233 33 🇪🇬 7.1×
Mine warfare 12 2 🇪🇬 6.0×
Auxiliaries 43 7 🇪🇬 6.1×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇪🇬 EgyptRomeo-class ×4Oliver Hazard Perry-class ×4Gowind 2500-class ×4
🇿🇦 South AfricaHeroine-class ×3Valour-class ×4
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South Africa vsMoroccoNigeriaAlgeriaTunisiaKenya

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, Egypt or South Africa?
Egypt has a larger navy with 320 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Egypt or South Africa?
Egypt operates more submarines with 8 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which navy has more frigates, Egypt or South Africa?
Egypt operates 13 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the Egypt and South Africa navies compare in size?
Egypt's navy is 6.5 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (320 vs 49).