Economic Outlook No 117 — Headline inflation in South Africa
South Africa: Economic Outlook No 117 — Headline inflation was 4.23 in 2026. ▼ Falling
Economic Outlook No 117 — Headline inflation in South Africa, 2001–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation in South Africa is 4.23, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.4% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation in South Africa peaked at 11.57 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.41, in 2004.
That places South Africa 4th out of 28 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 117 — Headline inflation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5.68 | — |
| 2002 | 9.15 | +61.1% |
| 2003 | 5.84 | -36.2% |
| 2004 | 1.41 | -75.9% |
| 2005 | 3.29 | +133.5% |
| 2006 | 4.65 | +41.3% |
| 2007 | 7.16 | +53.8% |
| 2008 | 11.57 | +61.6% |
| 2009 | 6.53 | -43.5% |
| 2010 | 4.29 | -34.3% |
| 2011 | 4.98 | +16.1% |
| 2012 | 5.67 | +13.8% |
| 2013 | 5.75 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 6.09 | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 4.6 | -24.4% |
| 2016 | 6.28 | +36.4% |
| 2017 | 5.32 | -15.3% |
| 2018 | 4.6 | -13.6% |
| 2019 | 4.12 | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 3.29 | -20.1% |
| 2021 | 4.55 | +38.4% |
| 2022 | 6.86 | +50.8% |
| 2023 | 5.9 | -14.0% |
| 2024 | 4.43 | -25.0% |
| 2025 | 3.25 | -26.7% |
| 2026 | 4.23 | +30.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.14 | 1.41 | 11.57 | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.17 | 4.12 | 6.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.64 | 3.25 | 6.86 | 7 |
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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.7139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1196 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 789.38 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.295 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,946 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation in South Africa?
- Economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation in South Africa was 4.23 in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.57 in 2008.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.41 in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 28 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — headline inflation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 117 — Headline inflation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2025), OECD Economic Outlook No 117 (Edition 2025/1) EO117 Database documentation EO117 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact : eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords : Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP