Annual GDP growth (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Annual GDP growth (%) was 0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual GDP growth in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.5% for annual gdp growth in 2024.
That represents a change of down 33.7% on the previous year and down 62.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual gdp growth in South Africa peaked at 5.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -6.2%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 198th of 230 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual GDP growth (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.2% | — |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -35.7% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | +37.1% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -20.3% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +15.9% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -40.5% |
| 2009 | -1.5% | -148.2% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -297.6% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -24.4% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -43.1% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -49.7% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +74.2% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | +34.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -83.3% |
| 2020 | -6.2% | -2473.2% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | -178.8% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | -57.6% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -60.8% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -33.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5%, 15% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%, 13% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual GDP growth (%) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -2473.2% | 0.3% | -6.2% |
| 2010 | +297.6% | -1.5% | 3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.6% | -1.5% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 0.3% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | -6.2% | 4.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 195 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0.7% compare
- 196 Italy 0.7% compare
- 197 Hungary 0.6% compare
- 199 Finland 0.4% compare
- 200 San Marino 0.4% compare
- 201 Luxembourg 0.4% compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual gdp growth in South Africa?
- Annual gdp growth in South Africa was 0.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest annual gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.2% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual gdp growth?
- South Africa ranks 198th out of 230 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual gdp growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Annual GDP growth (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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