GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate was 3.94 % change on previous year in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3.94 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 12.0%
World rank
170th
of 212 countries
All-time high
31.19 % change on previous year
in 1980
All-time low
-1.11 % change on previous year
in 2020
Years of data
65
1961–2025
GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 3.94 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.0% on the previous year and down 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 31.19 % change on previous year in 1980 and was at its lowest, -1.11 % change on previous year, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 170th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.46 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 6.37 % change on previous year | +16.8% |
| 1963 | 10.6 % change on previous year | +66.3% |
| 1964 | 10.15 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 9.31 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 8.74 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1967 | 11.33 % change on previous year | +29.6% |
| 1968 | 8.24 % change on previous year | -27.3% |
| 1969 | 12.45 % change on previous year | +51.1% |
| 1970 | 10.19 % change on previous year | -18.2% |
| 1971 | 10.48 % change on previous year | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 12.55 % change on previous year | +19.8% |
| 1973 | 22.48 % change on previous year | +79.1% |
| 1974 | 21.83 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 12.83 % change on previous year | -41.3% |
| 1976 | 12.77 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 10.15 % change on previous year | -20.5% |
| 1978 | 13.85 % change on previous year | +36.4% |
| 1979 | 18.28 % change on previous year | +32.0% |
| 1980 | 31.19 % change on previous year | +70.6% |
| 1981 | 17.38 % change on previous year | -44.3% |
| 1982 | 14.11 % change on previous year | -18.8% |
| 1983 | 14.91 % change on previous year | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 16.82 % change on previous year | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 14.74 % change on previous year | -12.4% |
| 1986 | 16.68 % change on previous year | +13.2% |
| 1987 | 17.26 % change on previous year | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 20.27 % change on previous year | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 19.89 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 15.08 % change on previous year | -24.2% |
| 1991 | 14.48 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 12.26 % change on previous year | -15.3% |
| 1993 | 14.76 % change on previous year | +20.4% |
| 1994 | 13.33 % change on previous year | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 14.27 % change on previous year | +7.1% |
| 1996 | 12.67 % change on previous year | -11.3% |
| 1997 | 10.95 % change on previous year | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 8.62 % change on previous year | -21.3% |
| 1999 | 9.45 % change on previous year | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 13.77 % change on previous year | +45.6% |
| 2001 | 10.71 % change on previous year | -22.2% |
| 2002 | 16.7 % change on previous year | +55.9% |
| 2003 | 9.53 % change on previous year | -42.9% |
| 2004 | 10.87 % change on previous year | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 11.17 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 12.01 % change on previous year | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 14.05 % change on previous year | +17.0% |
| 2008 | 11.29 % change on previous year | -19.6% |
| 2009 | 6.99 % change on previous year | -38.1% |
| 2010 | 9.35 % change on previous year | +33.8% |
| 2011 | 8.88 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 7.19 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 2013 | 8.47 % change on previous year | +17.8% |
| 2014 | 6.86 % change on previous year | -19.1% |
| 2015 | 6.94 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 7.66 % change on previous year | +10.4% |
| 2017 | 6.69 % change on previous year | -12.6% |
| 2018 | 5.61 % change on previous year | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 4.89 % change on previous year | -12.9% |
| 2020 | -1.11 % change on previous year | -122.7% |
| 2021 | 11.58 % change on previous year | -1142.9% |
| 2022 | 7.41 % change on previous year | -36.0% |
| 2023 | 5.57 % change on previous year | -24.8% |
| 2024 | 4.47 % change on previous year | -19.6% |
| 2025 | 3.94 % change on previous year | -12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.18 % change on previous year | 5.46 % change on previous year | 12.45 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 14.54 % change on previous year | 10.15 % change on previous year | 22.48 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.32 % change on previous year | 14.11 % change on previous year | 31.19 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.59 % change on previous year | 8.62 % change on previous year | 15.08 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.71 % change on previous year | 6.99 % change on previous year | 16.7 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.26 % change on previous year | 4.89 % change on previous year | 9.35 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.31 % change on previous year | -1.11 % change on previous year | 11.58 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 167 New Zealand 4.1 % change on previous year compare
- 168 Costa Rica 4 % change on previous year compare
- 169 China 3.99 % change on previous year compare
- 171 Luxembourg 3.88 % change on previous year compare
- 172 Belize 3.84 % change on previous year compare
- 173 Austria 3.79 % change on previous year 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)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 48,868 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa was 3.94 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.19 % change on previous year in 1980.
- What is the lowest gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.11 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 170th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gdp (current lcu), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in GDP (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in GDP (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.