South Africa
ZAFSub-Saharan Africa Upper middle incomeCapital: PretoriaEconomy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
79/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$479.96B
2026▲ 12.4%
Population
64.0M
2024▲ 1.3%
GDP per Capita
$7,503
2026▲ 10.8%
Life Expectancy
66.1 years
2023▲ 1.0%
South Africa in world space2000–2023
192 countries · log scale on X world South Africa· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About South Africa
South Africa's GDP is $479.96B (2026), with a population of 64.7M, and GDP per capita of $7,503. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 1.0%, inflation at 3.9%, unemployment at 32.5%, government debt at 78.9% of GDP, life expectancy of 66.3 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
▶Economy30 indicators · 2020–2026 · IMF / WB
▶Financial Markets2 indicators · 2025–2026 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Rate (per USD) | 16.25 | 2026 | — | WB |
| Exchange Rate (per EUR) | 20.18 | 2025 | ▲ 1.8% | WB |
▶Fiscal & Monetary24 indicators · 2022–2026 · IMF / WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade (% of GDP) | 61.6% | 2024 | ▼ 6.1% | WB |
| Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 31.8% | 2024 | ▼ 4.4% | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 29.9% | 2024 | ▼ 7.9% | WB |
| Exports of Goods & Services (USD) | $127.53B | 2024 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (USD) | $119.76B | 2024 | ▼ 3.2% | WB |
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $110.08B | 2024 | ▼ 0.7% | WB |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $123.47B | 2024 | ▼ 5.6% | WB |
| FDI Inflows (% of GDP) | 0.6% | 2024 | ▼ 42.6% | WB |
| FDI Outflows (% of GDP) | -0.3% | 2024 | ▲ 57.0% | WB |
| FDI Net Inflows (USD) | $2.33B | 2024 | ▼ 39.7% | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (USD) | $855.4M | 2024 | ▲ 6.5% | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP) | 0.2% | 2024 | ▲ 1.2% | WB |
| High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured) | 5.7% | 2024 | ▲ 15.1% | WB |
| Current Account Balance (% of GDP) | -0.6% | 2024 | ▲ 41.8% | WB |
| Current Account Balance (USD) | $-2.58B | 2024 | ▲ 38.7% | WB |
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Debt (% of GNI) | 44.8% | 2024 | ▲ 1.5% | WB |
| External Debt Stocks (USD) | $175.90B | 2024 | ▲ 6.1% | WB |
| Total Debt Service (% of GNI) | 5.7% | 2024 | ▼ 5.6% | WB |
| Present Value of External Debt (USD) | $94.14B | 2024 | — | WB |
| Use of IMF Credit (USD) | $7.63B | 2024 | ▼ 22.9% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (% of GNI) | 0.4% | 2023 | ▲ 55.2% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $1.51B | 2023 | ▲ 46.3% | WB |
▶Finance11 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Credit by Financial Sector (% of GDP) | 119.0% | 2023 | ▲ 0.4% | WB |
| Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP) | 90.4% | 2023 | ▼ 1.3% | WB |
| Stock Market Capitalization (% of GDP) | 245.7% | 2024 | ▼ 8.6% | WB |
| Stock Market Capitalization (USD) | $985.70B | 2024 | ▼ 3.9% | WB |
| Stock Market Turnover (% of GDP) | 47.9% | 2024 | ▼ 8.7% | WB |
| Listed Domestic Companies | 220 | 2024 | ▼ 1.8% | WB |
| Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%) | 7.8% | 2024 | — | WB |
| Bank Nonperforming Loans (%) | 4.5% | 2021 | — | WB |
| Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%) | 81.1% | 2024 | ▼ 5.0% | WB |
| Account Ownership, Female (%) | 81.0% | 2024 | ▼ 6.0% | WB |
| Account Ownership, Male (%) | 81.3% | 2024 | ▼ 3.9% | WB |
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 64.0M | 2024 | ▲ 1.3% | WB |
| Population Growth (%) | 1.2% | 2024 | ▼ 5.9% | WB |
| Population Density (per km²) | 52 | 2023 | ▲ 1.3% | WB |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 1.2M | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Land Area (sq km) | 1.2M | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (%) | 63.7% | 2024 | ▲ 0.2% | WB |
| Urban Population (total) | 40.8M | 2024 | ▲ 1.4% | WB |
| Rural Population (%) | 36.3% | 2024 | ▼ 0.3% | WB |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 66.1 years | 2023 | ▲ 1.0% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 62.6 years | 2023 | ▲ 1.3% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 69.6 years | 2023 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 2.2 | 2023 | ▼ 0.5% | WB |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 18.8 | 2023 | ▼ 1.6% | WB |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 9.2 | 2023 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Net Migration | 146,370 | 2025 | ▼ 12.3% | WB |
| Population Ages 0–14 (%) | 25.9% | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Population Ages 15–64 (%) | 67.4% | 2024 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Population Ages 65+ (%) | 6.7% | 2024 | ▲ 2.7% | WB |
| Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 48.3% | 2024 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 9.9% | 2024 | ▲ 2.7% | WB |
| Youth Dependency Ratio (%) | 38.4% | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000) | 327.2 | 2023 | ▼ 5.2% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 212.6 | 2023 | ▼ 4.9% | WB |
▶Labor20 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 26.7M | 2025 | ▲ 1.4% | WB |
| Labor Force Participation (%) | 55.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Female Labor Force Participation (%) | 49.9% | 2025 | ▲ 0.2% | WB |
| Male Labor Force Participation (%) | 61.7% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| Unemployment (%) | 32.4% | 2025 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Female Unemployment (%) | 34.0% | 2025 | ▼ 1.3% | WB |
| Male Unemployment (%) | 31.0% | 2025 | ▲ 1.9% | WB |
| Youth Unemployment (%) | 59.9% | 2025 | ▼ 0.5% | WB |
| Employment in Agriculture (%) | 5.4% | 2025 | ▼ 0.6% | WB |
| Employment in Industry (%) | 20.8% | 2025 | ▼ 0.2% | WB |
| Employment in Services (%) | 73.8% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Self-Employed (%) | 55.6% | 2024 | ▲ 1.0% | WB |
| Vulnerable Employment (%) | 11.7% | 2025 | ▼ 0.3% | WB |
| Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total) | 82.7% | 2025 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Part-Time Employment (%) | 15.7% | 2024 | ▼ 0.3% | WB |
| Employers (% of total employment) | 5.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Labor Force, Female (% of total) | 46.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.2% | WB |
| Employment to Population Ratio (%) | 37.6% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| Self-Employed (% of total) | 17.3% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| NEET Youth (% not in education/employment) | 34.6% | 2024 | ▲ 1.9% | WB |
▶Education21 indicators · 2015–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Spending (% of GDP) | 6.0% | 2024 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Education Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 19.1% | 2025 | ▲ 3.4% | WB |
| Adult Literacy Rate (%) | 91.2% | 2024 | ▲ 1.3% | WB |
| Female Literacy Rate (%) | 90.8% | 2024 | ▲ 1.6% | WB |
| Male Literacy Rate (%) | 91.5% | 2024 | — | WB |
| Youth Literacy Rate (%) | 97.2% | 2024 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Primary School Enrollment (%) | 101.8% | 2023 | ▼ 0.6% | WB |
| Secondary School Enrollment (%) | 104.1% | 2023 | ▼ 0.4% | WB |
| Tertiary School Enrollment (%) | 23.5% | 2023 | ▼ 1.0% | WB |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 95.3% | 2023 | ▼ 1.8% | WB |
| Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%) | 88.3% | 2023 | ▲ 1.6% | WB |
| Out-of-School Children, Primary | 448,146 | 2023 | ▲ 4.1% | WB |
| Out-of-School Girls, Primary | 218,959 | 2023 | ▲ 4.8% | WB |
| Primary School Teachers | 287,310 | 2023 | — | WB |
| Secondary School Teachers | 181,739 | 2023 | ▼ 0.2% | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary | 30 | 2015 | — | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary | 28 | 2017 | — | WB |
| Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap) | 38.7% | 2018 | — | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary) | 95.4 | 2022 | ▲ 2.8% | WB |
| Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt) | 30.8% | 2018 | — | WB |
| Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt) | 15.3% | 2018 | — | WB |
▶Health39 indicators · 2017–2025 · WHO
▶Energy & Environment16 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita) | 6.9 | 2024 | ▲ 1.7% | WB |
| CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes) | 440 | 2024 | ▲ 3.0% | WB |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 1,939 | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 3,247 | 2023 | ▼ 4.6% | WB |
| Renewable Electricity Output (%) | 6.4% | 2021 | — | WB |
| Renewable Energy Consumption (%) | 9.7% | 2021 | — | WB |
| Access to Electricity (%) | 87.7% | 2023 | ▲ 1.4% | WB |
| Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%) | 89.8% | 2023 | ▲ 0.7% | WB |
| PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³) | 27.7 | 2023 | — | WB |
| Forest Area (%) | 14.0% | 2023 | ▼ 0.2% | WB |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 169,409 | 2023 | ▼ 0.2% | WB |
| Arable Land (%) | 9.9% | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Terrestrial Protected Areas (%) | 12.8% | 2024 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Marine Protected Areas (%) | 15.4% | 2024 | ▼ 0.6% | WB |
| Access to Basic Drinking Water (%) | 90.2% | 2024 | ▼ 0.3% | WHO |
| Access to Basic Sanitation (%) | 77.4% | 2024 | ▲ 0.8% | WHO |
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 79.4% | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 5,726 | 2023 | ▲ 7.5% | WB |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 113.2 | 2022 | ▼ 0.9% | WB |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 124.1 | 2022 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 103.2 | 2022 | — | WB |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 3.3M | 2023 | ▼ 1.9% | WB |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 478,243 | 2023 | ▼ 17.4% | WB |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 77.2 | 2023 | ▼ 15.6% | WB |
| Prevalence of Undernourishment (%) | 10.0% | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal) | 47.1% | 2022 | ▲ 1.1% | WB |
| Cereal Production (metric tons) | 19.0M | 2023 | ▲ 5.4% | WB |
▶Technology13 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 75.7% | 2023 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 172 | 2023 | ▲ 6.7% | WB |
| Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100) | 3.4 | 2023 | ▲ 9.1% | WB |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 16,658.2 | 2024 | ▲ 12.7% | WB |
| R&D Spending (% of GDP) | 0.62% | 2022 | ▲ 0.4% | WB |
| Patent Applications, Residents | 1,804 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Patent Applications, Non-Residents | 9,156 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 16,651 | 2022 | ▲ 3.5% | WB |
| High-Technology Exports (USD) | $2.45B | 2024 | ▲ 10.8% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (% of service exports) | 9.5% | 2024 | ▲ 2.5% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (USD) | $1.53B | 2024 | ▲ 14.3% | WB |
| Industrial Design Applications, Resident | 728 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Researchers in R&D (per million) | 444 | 2022 | ▼ 2.3% | WB |
▶Infrastructure9 indicators · 2008–2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 15.5M | 2023 | ▲ 27.4% | WB |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 59.7 | 2023 | ▼ 58.4% | WB |
| Container Port Traffic (TEU) | 4.1M | 2022 | ▼ 8.2% | WB |
| Rail Lines (total km) | 20,953 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Railways, Passengers (million km) | 3,502 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Railways, Goods (million ton-km) | 113,342 | 2008 | — | WB |
| Logistics Performance Index (1–5) | 3.70 | 2022 | — | WB |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 3.5% | 2023 | ▲ 43.0% | WB |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 3.7% | 2023 | ▼ 16.4% | WB |
▶Gender8 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in Parliament (%) | 44.7% | 2024 | ▼ 2.5% | WB |
| Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%) | 49.8% | 2024 | ▲ 1.5% | WB |
| Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%) | 85.3% | 2025 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Girls Out-of-School Rate (%) | 99.8% | 2017 | — | WB |
| Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000) | 51.6 | 2023 | ▼ 0.3% | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Primary | 103.67 | 2017 | — | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Secondary | 1.09 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 0.96 | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | -0.28 | 2023 | ▲ 13.8% | WB |
| Government Effectiveness | -0.26 | 2023 | ▼ 135.7% | WB |
| Political Stability | -0.67 | 2023 | ▲ 2.3% | WB |
| Regulatory Quality | -0.22 | 2023 | ▼ 20.8% | WB |
| Rule of Law | 0.09 | 2023 | ▲ 111.5% | WB |
| Voice & Accountability | 0.74 | 2023 | ▲ 3.0% | WB |
| Control of Corruption (percentile rank) | 45.8% | 2023 | ▲ 4.3% | WB |
| Government Effectiveness (percentile rank) | 40.6% | 2023 | ▼ 14.0% | WB |
| Rule of Law (percentile rank) | 54.2% | 2023 | ▲ 0.9% | WB |
| Political Stability (percentile rank) | 20.9% | 2023 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
▶Military6 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Spending (% of GDP) | 0.7% | 2024 | ▼ 7.2% | WB |
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $2.84B | 2024 | ▼ 1.4% | WB |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 89,000 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Armed Forces (% of labor force) | 0.4% | 2020 | — | WB |
| Military Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 2.1% | 2024 | ▼ 8.8% | WB |
| Intentional Homicides (per 100,000) | 43.7 | 2022 | ▲ 6.8% | WB |
▶Poverty & Inequality10 indicators · 2022 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty at $2.15/day (%) | 17.4% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty at $3.65/day (%) | 30.2% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty at $6.85/day (%) | 59.6% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty Headcount, National (%) | 37.9% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Gini Index | 54.1 | 2022 | — | WB |
| Income Share, Top 10% | 42.1% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Income Share, Bottom 10% | 1.4% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Income Share, Top 20% | 59.5% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Income Share, Bottom 20% | 3.7% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty Gap at $2.15/day (%) | 5.1% | 2022 | — | WB |
▶Social Protection8 indicators · 2019–2021 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Insurance Coverage (%) | 3.4% | 2021 | — | — |
| Social Assistance Coverage (%) | 76.7% | 2021 | — | — |
| Labor Market Programs Coverage (%) | 3.3% | 2019 | — | — |
| Social Protection Coverage (%) | 78.4% | 2021 | — | — |
| Human Capital Index (0–1) | 0.43 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Human Capital Index, Female | 0.45 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Human Capital Index, Male | 0.41 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Learning-Adjusted Years of School | 5.6 years | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Tourism5 indicators · 2020 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Tourism, Arrivals | 3.9M | 2020 | — | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (USD) | $2.72B | 2020 | — | WB |
| Tourism Expenditures (USD) | $1.59B | 2020 | — | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (% of total exports) | 2.9% | 2020 | — | WB |
| International Tourism, Transport Services (USD) | $109.0M | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Urban Development8 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 1.4% | 2024 | ▼ 4.9% | WB |
| Population in Largest City | 6.4M | 2025 | ▲ 1.9% | WB |
| Population in Largest City (% of urban) | 15.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total) | 36.1% | 2025 | ▲ 0.6% | WB |
| Population in Slums (% of urban) | 24.2% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Rural Population Growth (%) | 0.9% | 2024 | ▼ 8.6% | WB |
| Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%) | 68.0% | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WHO |
| Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%) | 73.8% | 2024 | ▲ 0.8% | WHO |
