Navy comparison: Iran vs South Africa
Iran operates a fleet of 97 ships compared to 49 for South Africa. The fleet breakdown includes 6 vs 3 submarines, 1 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 7 vs 4 frigates, 9 vs 0 corvettes, 24 vs 0 amphibious ships, 21 vs 33 patrol boats, 1 vs 2 mine warfare ships (Iran vs South Africa). Iran's navy is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, while South Africa's is the South African Navy.
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy 🇮🇷
| Official Name | Islamic Republic of Iran Navy |
| Total ships | 97 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 97 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
South African Navy 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Navy |
| Total ships | 49 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 49 as of 2025 |
Iranian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 6 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 1 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 7 | |
| Corvettes | 9 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 21 | |
| Amphibious ships | 24 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 1 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 17 | |
| Other ships | 11 | |
South African ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 3 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 33 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 2 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has a larger navy with 97 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Iran or South Africa?
Iran operates more submarines with 6 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, Iran or South Africa?
Iran operates 7 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the Iran and South Africa navies compare in size?
Iran's navy is 2.0 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (97 vs 49).