South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Gross domestic product (GDP)

South Africa
212.63 billion current GBP
in 2014
United Arab Emirates
242.76 billion current GBP
in 2014
South Africa rank
34th
United Arab Emirates rank
31st

Gross domestic product (GDP) over time

  • South Africa
  • United Arab Emirates
0100.0B200.0B300.0B191119622014

How they compare

United Arab Emirates currently reports 242.76 billion current GBP against 212.63 billion current GBP in South Africa, a difference of 30.13 billion current GBP.

That makes United Arab Emirates's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 43 shared years of data; in 1972 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 34th and United Arab Emirates ranks 31st of 200 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Arab Emirates Difference Ahead
1970s 18.04 billion current GBP 8.15 billion current GBP 9.89 billion current GBP South Africa
1980s 55.54 billion current GBP 25.25 billion current GBP 30.30 billion current GBP South Africa
1990s 84.05 billion current GBP 39.94 billion current GBP 44.11 billion current GBP South Africa
2000s 126.88 billion current GBP 105.42 billion current GBP 21.46 billion current GBP South Africa
2010s 240.26 billion current GBP 225.90 billion current GBP 14.36 billion current GBP South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher gross domestic product (gdp), South Africa or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates, at 242.76 billion current GBP against 212.63 billion current GBP in South Africa as of 2014.
What is the difference in gross domestic product (gdp) between South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
30.13 billion current GBP, with United Arab Emirates ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
43 years are reported by both, from 1972 to 2014.
How do South Africa and United Arab Emirates rank globally for gross domestic product (gdp)?
South Africa ranks 34th and United Arab Emirates ranks 31st of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid, drawing on Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/national-gdp-fouquin-current-gbp/south-africa/united-arab-emirates/

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<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/national-gdp-fouquin-current-gbp/south-africa/united-arab-emirates/">South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Gross domestic product (GDP)</a> β€” Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Gross domestic product (GDP)
Unit
current GBP
Source
Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
200 places, 13,609 data points, 1827–2014
Last refreshed

This data is expressed in British pounds. It is not adjusted for inflation or differences in living costs between countries.