Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa
South Africa: Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution was 12,166 2011$ in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
12,166 2011$
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
76th
of 145 countries
All-time high
12,246 2011$
in 2015
All-time low
897 2011$
in 1862
Years of data
277
1700–2018
Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa, 1700–2018
Source: Maddison Project Database (2018) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in 2011$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa is 12,166 2011$, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa peaked at 12,246 2011$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 897 2011$, in 1862.
That places South Africa 76th out of 145 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa, year by year
| Year | 2011$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1700 | 2,715 2011$ | — |
| 1701 | 2,715 2011$ | +0.0% |
| 1702 | 2,710 2011$ | -0.2% |
| 1703 | 2,581 2011$ | -4.8% |
| 1704 | 2,332 2011$ | -9.6% |
| 1705 | 2,249 2011$ | -3.6% |
| 1706 | 2,844 2011$ | +26.5% |
| 1707 | 3,145 2011$ | +10.6% |
| 1708 | 3,366 2011$ | +7.0% |
| 1709 | 3,060 2011$ | -9.1% |
| 1710 | 2,920 2011$ | -4.6% |
| 1711 | 2,149 2011$ | -26.4% |
| 1712 | 1,835 2011$ | -14.6% |
| 1713 | 2,061 2011$ | +12.3% |
| 1714 | 2,314 2011$ | +12.3% |
| 1715 | 2,284 2011$ | -1.3% |
| 1716 | 2,334 2011$ | +2.2% |
| 1717 | 2,426 2011$ | +3.9% |
| 1718 | 2,789 2011$ | +15.0% |
| 1719 | 2,222 2011$ | -20.3% |
| 1720 | 2,600 2011$ | +17.0% |
| 1721 | 2,609 2011$ | +0.3% |
| 1722 | 2,673 2011$ | +2.5% |
| 1723 | 2,829 2011$ | +5.8% |
| 1724 | 2,813 2011$ | -0.6% |
| 1725 | 2,308 2011$ | -18.0% |
| 1726 | 2,126 2011$ | -7.9% |
| 1727 | 2,219 2011$ | +4.4% |
| 1728 | 2,184 2011$ | -1.6% |
| 1729 | 2,351 2011$ | +7.6% |
| 1730 | 2,308 2011$ | -1.8% |
| 1731 | 2,461 2011$ | +6.6% |
| 1732 | 2,377 2011$ | -3.4% |
| 1733 | 2,187 2011$ | -8.0% |
| 1734 | 1,973 2011$ | -9.8% |
| 1735 | 1,980 2011$ | +0.4% |
| 1736 | 1,833 2011$ | -7.4% |
| 1737 | 1,989 2011$ | +8.5% |
| 1738 | 2,047 2011$ | +2.9% |
| 1739 | 1,934 2011$ | -5.5% |
| 1740 | 2,023 2011$ | +4.6% |
| 1741 | 2,236 2011$ | +10.5% |
| 1742 | 2,211 2011$ | -1.1% |
| 1743 | 2,445 2011$ | +10.6% |
| 1744 | 2,342 2011$ | -4.2% |
| 1745 | 2,434 2011$ | +3.9% |
| 1746 | 2,447 2011$ | +0.5% |
| 1747 | 2,632 2011$ | +7.6% |
| 1748 | 2,373 2011$ | -9.8% |
| 1749 | 2,402 2011$ | +1.2% |
| 1750 | 2,697 2011$ | +12.3% |
| 1751 | 2,644 2011$ | -2.0% |
| 1752 | 2,625 2011$ | -0.7% |
| 1753 | 2,560 2011$ | -2.5% |
| 1754 | 2,342 2011$ | -8.5% |
| 1755 | 2,455 2011$ | +4.8% |
| 1756 | 2,495 2011$ | +1.6% |
| 1757 | 2,165 2011$ | -13.2% |
| 1758 | 2,130 2011$ | -1.6% |
| 1759 | 2,040 2011$ | -4.2% |
| 1760 | 2,005 2011$ | -1.7% |
| 1761 | 2,071 2011$ | +3.3% |
| 1762 | 1,852 2011$ | -10.6% |
| 1763 | 2,160 2011$ | +16.6% |
| 1764 | 2,185 2011$ | +1.2% |
| 1765 | 2,225 2011$ | +1.8% |
| 1766 | 2,216 2011$ | -0.4% |
| 1767 | 2,177 2011$ | -1.8% |
| 1768 | 2,225 2011$ | +2.2% |
| 1769 | 2,246 2011$ | +0.9% |
| 1770 | 2,294 2011$ | +2.1% |
| 1771 | 2,283 2011$ | -0.5% |
| 1772 | 2,128 2011$ | -6.8% |
| 1773 | 2,562 2011$ | +20.4% |
| 1774 | 2,533 2011$ | -1.1% |
| 1775 | 2,429 2011$ | -4.1% |
| 1776 | 2,208 2011$ | -9.1% |
| 1777 | 1,824 2011$ | -17.4% |
| 1778 | 1,669 2011$ | -8.5% |
| 1779 | 1,626 2011$ | -2.6% |
| 1780 | 1,655 2011$ | +1.8% |
| 1781 | 1,248 2011$ | -24.6% |
| 1782 | 1,487 2011$ | +19.2% |
| 1783 | 1,573 2011$ | +5.8% |
| 1784 | 1,808 2011$ | +14.9% |
| 1785 | 1,943 2011$ | +7.5% |
| 1786 | 1,524 2011$ | -21.6% |
| 1787 | 2,122 2011$ | +39.2% |
| 1788 | 1,972 2011$ | -7.1% |
| 1789 | 1,666 2011$ | -15.5% |
| 1790 | 1,612 2011$ | -3.2% |
| 1791 | 1,627 2011$ | +0.9% |
| 1792 | 1,387 2011$ | -14.8% |
| 1793 | 1,529 2011$ | +10.2% |
| 1800 | 1,529 2011$ | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 1,462 2011$ | -4.4% |
| 1805 | 1,385 2011$ | -5.3% |
| 1806 | 1,385 2011$ | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 1,502 2011$ | +8.4% |
| 1808 | 1,315 2011$ | -12.5% |
| 1809 | 1,285 2011$ | -2.3% |
| 1810 | 1,420 2011$ | +10.5% |
| 1811 | 1,127 2011$ | -20.6% |
| 1812 | 1,141 2011$ | +1.2% |
| 1813 | 1,438 2011$ | +26.0% |
| 1814 | 1,455 2011$ | +1.2% |
| 1815 | 1,210 2011$ | -16.8% |
| 1816 | 1,261 2011$ | +4.2% |
| 1817 | 1,310 2011$ | +3.9% |
| 1818 | 1,390 2011$ | +6.1% |
| 1819 | 1,202 2011$ | -13.5% |
| 1820 | 1,188 2011$ | -1.2% |
| 1821 | 1,403 2011$ | +18.1% |
| 1822 | 1,309 2011$ | -6.7% |
| 1826 | 1,353 2011$ | +3.4% |
| 1829 | 1,372 2011$ | +1.4% |
| 1831 | 1,243 2011$ | -9.4% |
| 1840 | 1,173 2011$ | -5.6% |
| 1843 | 1,092 2011$ | -6.9% |
| 1847 | 937 2011$ | -14.2% |
| 1850 | 1,042 2011$ | +11.2% |
| 1851 | 1,234 2011$ | +18.4% |
| 1852 | 1,294 2011$ | +4.9% |
| 1853 | 1,390 2011$ | +7.4% |
| 1854 | 1,352 2011$ | -2.7% |
| 1855 | 1,451 2011$ | +7.3% |
| 1856 | 1,168 2011$ | -19.5% |
| 1857 | 1,384 2011$ | +18.5% |
| 1858 | 1,210 2011$ | -12.6% |
| 1859 | 1,250 2011$ | +3.3% |
| 1860 | 1,294 2011$ | +3.5% |
| 1861 | 1,218 2011$ | -5.9% |
| 1862 | 897 2011$ | -26.4% |
| 1863 | 960 2011$ | +7.0% |
| 1864 | 1,339 2011$ | +39.5% |
| 1865 | 985 2011$ | -26.4% |
| 1866 | 1,025 2011$ | +4.1% |
| 1867 | 1,213 2011$ | +18.3% |
| 1868 | 1,226 2011$ | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 1,211 2011$ | -1.2% |
| 1870 | 1,286 2011$ | +6.2% |
| 1871 | 1,290 2011$ | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 1,902 2011$ | +47.4% |
| 1873 | 1,639 2011$ | -13.8% |
| 1874 | 1,562 2011$ | -4.7% |
| 1875 | 1,741 2011$ | +11.5% |
| 1876 | 1,946 2011$ | +11.8% |
| 1877 | 1,835 2011$ | -5.7% |
| 1878 | 1,790 2011$ | -2.5% |
| 1879 | 1,985 2011$ | +10.9% |
| 1880 | 2,294 2011$ | +15.6% |
| 1881 | 2,168 2011$ | -5.5% |
| 1882 | 2,053 2011$ | -5.3% |
| 1883 | 1,578 2011$ | -23.1% |
| 1884 | 1,430 2011$ | -9.4% |
| 1885 | 1,208 2011$ | -15.5% |
| 1886 | 1,427 2011$ | +18.1% |
| 1887 | 1,627 2011$ | +14.0% |
| 1888 | 1,836 2011$ | +12.8% |
| 1889 | 1,817 2011$ | -1.0% |
| 1890 | 1,830 2011$ | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 1,906 2011$ | +4.2% |
| 1892 | 1,860 2011$ | -2.4% |
| 1893 | 1,843 2011$ | -0.9% |
| 1894 | 1,790 2011$ | -2.9% |
| 1895 | 2,061 2011$ | +15.1% |
| 1896 | 2,153 2011$ | +4.5% |
| 1897 | 2,015 2011$ | -6.4% |
| 1898 | 2,418 2011$ | +20.0% |
| 1899 | 2,123 2011$ | -12.2% |
| 1900 | 1,494 2011$ | -29.6% |
| 1901 | 1,608 2011$ | +7.6% |
| 1902 | 1,919 2011$ | +19.3% |
| 1903 | 2,571 2011$ | +34.0% |
| 1904 | 2,571 2011$ | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2,745 2011$ | +6.8% |
| 1906 | 2,963 2011$ | +7.9% |
| 1907 | 2,907 2011$ | -1.9% |
| 1908 | 2,283 2011$ | -21.5% |
| 1909 | 2,391 2011$ | +4.7% |
| 1910 | 1,835 2011$ | -23.3% |
| 1918 | 1,854 2011$ | +1.0% |
| 1924 | 2,037 2011$ | +9.9% |
| 1925 | 2,171 2011$ | +6.6% |
| 1926 | 2,228 2011$ | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 2,271 2011$ | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 2,444 2011$ | +7.6% |
| 1929 | 2,386 2011$ | -2.4% |
| 1930 | 2,252 2011$ | -5.6% |
| 1931 | 2,128 2011$ | -5.5% |
| 1932 | 2,047 2011$ | -3.8% |
| 1933 | 2,268 2011$ | +10.8% |
| 1934 | 2,514 2011$ | +10.8% |
| 1935 | 2,785 2011$ | +10.8% |
| 1936 | 3,048 2011$ | +9.4% |
| 1937 | 3,249 2011$ | +6.6% |
| 1938 | 3,118 2011$ | -4.0% |
| 1939 | 3,272 2011$ | +4.9% |
| 1940 | 3,419 2011$ | +4.5% |
| 1941 | 3,510 2011$ | +2.7% |
| 1942 | 3,548 2011$ | +1.1% |
| 1943 | 3,558 2011$ | +0.3% |
| 1944 | 3,610 2011$ | +1.5% |
| 1945 | 3,631 2011$ | +0.6% |
| 1946 | 3,684 2011$ | +1.5% |
| 1947 | 3,647 2011$ | -1.0% |
| 1948 | 3,848 2011$ | +5.5% |
| 1949 | 3,819 2011$ | -0.8% |
| 1950 | 4,041 2011$ | +5.8% |
| 1951 | 4,130 2011$ | +2.2% |
| 1952 | 4,175 2011$ | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 4,264 2011$ | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 4,404 2011$ | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 4,511 2011$ | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 4,645 2011$ | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 4,704 2011$ | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 4,685 2011$ | -0.4% |
| 1959 | 4,774 2011$ | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 4,847 2011$ | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 4,929 2011$ | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 5,067 2011$ | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 5,294 2011$ | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 5,499 2011$ | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 5,673 2011$ | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 5,762 2011$ | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 5,993 2011$ | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 6,087 2011$ | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 6,290 2011$ | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 6,448 2011$ | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 6,591 2011$ | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 6,550 2011$ | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 6,655 2011$ | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 6,853 2011$ | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 6,808 2011$ | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 6,802 2011$ | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 6,623 2011$ | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 6,653 2011$ | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 6,746 2011$ | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 6,998 2011$ | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 7,141 2011$ | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 6,891 2011$ | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 6,554 2011$ | -4.9% |
| 1984 | 6,672 2011$ | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 6,385 2011$ | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 6,236 2011$ | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 6,212 2011$ | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 6,319 2011$ | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 6,306 2011$ | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 6,111 2011$ | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 6,035 2011$ | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 5,902 2011$ | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 5,966 2011$ | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 6,173 2011$ | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 6,406 2011$ | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 6,726 2011$ | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 6,950 2011$ | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 7,024 2011$ | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 7,234 2011$ | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 7,583 2011$ | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 7,840 2011$ | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 8,171 2011$ | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 8,451 2011$ | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 8,878 2011$ | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 9,394 2011$ | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 9,978 2011$ | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 10,576 2011$ | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 10,977 2011$ | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 10,873 2011$ | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 11,319 2011$ | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 11,838 2011$ | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 11,992 2011$ | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 12,171 2011$ | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 12,242 2011$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 12,246 2011$ | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12,139 2011$ | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 12,189 2011$ | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 12,166 2011$ | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12,166 2011$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13,242 2011$, 92% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12,166 2011$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,046 2011$, 5.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1872 | +47.4% | 1,290 2011$ | 1,902 2011$ |
| 1864 | +39.5% | 960 2011$ | 1,339 2011$ |
| 1787 | +39.2% | 1,524 2011$ | 2,122 2011$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1700s | 2,772 2011$ | 2,249 2011$ | 3,366 2011$ | 10 |
| 1710s | 2,333 2011$ | 1,835 2011$ | 2,920 2011$ | 10 |
| 1720s | 2,471 2011$ | 2,126 2011$ | 2,829 2011$ | 10 |
| 1730s | 2,109 2011$ | 1,833 2011$ | 2,461 2011$ | 10 |
| 1740s | 2,354 2011$ | 2,023 2011$ | 2,632 2011$ | 10 |
| 1750s | 2,415 2011$ | 2,040 2011$ | 2,697 2011$ | 10 |
| 1760s | 2,136 2011$ | 1,852 2011$ | 2,246 2011$ | 10 |
| 1770s | 2,156 2011$ | 1,626 2011$ | 2,562 2011$ | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,700 2011$ | 1,248 2011$ | 2,122 2011$ | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,539 2011$ | 1,387 2011$ | 1,627 2011$ | 4 |
| 1800s | 1,409 2011$ | 1,285 2011$ | 1,529 2011$ | 7 |
| 1810s | 1,295 2011$ | 1,127 2011$ | 1,455 2011$ | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,325 2011$ | 1,188 2011$ | 1,403 2011$ | 5 |
| 1830s | 1,243 2011$ | 1,243 2011$ | 1,243 2011$ | 1 |
| 1840s | 1,067 2011$ | 937 2011$ | 1,173 2011$ | 3 |
| 1850s | 1,278 2011$ | 1,042 2011$ | 1,451 2011$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,137 2011$ | 897 2011$ | 1,339 2011$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,698 2011$ | 1,286 2011$ | 1,985 2011$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,744 2011$ | 1,208 2011$ | 2,294 2011$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 2,000 2011$ | 1,790 2011$ | 2,418 2011$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 2,345 2011$ | 1,494 2011$ | 2,963 2011$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 1,844 2011$ | 1,835 2011$ | 1,854 2011$ | 2 |
| 1920s | 2,256 2011$ | 2,037 2011$ | 2,444 2011$ | 6 |
| 1930s | 2,668 2011$ | 2,047 2011$ | 3,272 2011$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 3,627 2011$ | 3,419 2011$ | 3,848 2011$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 4,433 2011$ | 4,041 2011$ | 4,774 2011$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 5,544 2011$ | 4,847 2011$ | 6,290 2011$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,673 2011$ | 6,448 2011$ | 6,853 2011$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,571 2011$ | 6,212 2011$ | 7,141 2011$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,453 2011$ | 5,902 2011$ | 7,234 2011$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,272 2011$ | 7,583 2011$ | 10,977 2011$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,034 2011$ | 11,319 2011$ | 12,246 2011$ | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa?
- Divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution in South Africa was 12,166 2011$ in 2018, according to Maddison Project Database (2018) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12,246 2011$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 897 2011$ in 1862.
- How does South Africa rank for divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution?
- South Africa ranks 76th out of 145 countries with data for 2018.
- Is divergence of gdp per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Maddison Project Database (2018) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Divergence of GDP per capita among latecomers to the capitalist revolution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unit 1 'The capitalist revolution: prosperity, inequality, and planetary limits’ in The CORE Team, The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics. Available at: https://tinyco.re/4329598 [Figure 1.19]