Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita was -0.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, annual growth rate of real gdp per capita in South Africa stood at -0.7%.
That represents a change of down 40.0% on the previous year and down 133.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of real gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 4.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -7.7%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 195th of 226 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 growth rate of real GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.3% | — |
| 2001 | 1.8% | -45.5% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | +50.0% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -29.6% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | +84.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | -53.5% |
| 2009 | -2.7% | -235.0% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -166.7% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -52.6% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -11.1% |
| 2014 | -0.3% | -137.5% |
| 2015 | -0.7% | +133.3% |
| 2016 | -0.3% | -57.1% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -266.7% |
| 2018 | -0.1% | -120.0% |
| 2019 | -1.4% | +1300.0% |
| 2020 | -7.7% | +450.0% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -142.9% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | -81.8% |
| 2023 | -0.5% | -183.3% |
| 2024 | -0.7% | +40.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.9%. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -0.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.7%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -1300.0% | -0.1% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.5% | -2.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | -1.4% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.0% | -7.7% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 192 Israel -0.5% compare
- 193 Austria -0.6% compare
- 193 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) -0.6% compare
- 195 Cuba -0.7% compare
- 197 Luxembourg -0.8% compare
- 197 Malawi -0.8% compare
- 197 Mozambique -0.8% compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of real gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Annual growth rate of real gdp per capita in South Africa was -0.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of real gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of real gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.7% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual growth rate of real gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 195th out of 226 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual growth rate of real gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 133.3%. 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 growth rate of real GDP per capita (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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