GDP (current US$), annual growth rate (Country official) in South Africa
South Africa: GDP (current US$), annual growth rate (Country official) was 6.49 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6.49 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 25.7%
World rank
133rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
52.62 % change on previous year
in 2003
All-time low
-24.05 % change on previous year
in 1985
Years of data
65
1961–2025
GDP (current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.49 % change on previous year for gdp (current us$), annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is up 25.7% on the previous year and up 171.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 52.62 % change on previous year in 2003 and was at its lowest, -24.05 % change on previous year, in 1985.
That places South Africa 133rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (current US$), annual growth rate (Country official) 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 | 10.33 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 4.72 % change on previous year | -54.3% |
| 1973 | 35.68 % change on previous year | +656.0% |
| 1974 | 24.43 % change on previous year | -31.5% |
| 1975 | 3.67 % change on previous year | -85.0% |
| 1976 | -4.09 % change on previous year | -211.6% |
| 1977 | 10.15 % change on previous year | -348.0% |
| 1978 | 13.85 % change on previous year | +36.4% |
| 1979 | 22.15 % change on previous year | +59.9% |
| 1980 | 41.84 % change on previous year | +88.9% |
| 1981 | 4.17 % change on previous year | -90.0% |
| 1982 | -7.77 % change on previous year | -286.3% |
| 1983 | 11.99 % change on previous year | -254.3% |
| 1984 | -11.78 % change on previous year | -198.3% |
| 1985 | -24.05 % change on previous year | +104.1% |
| 1986 | 13.8 % change on previous year | -157.4% |
| 1987 | 31.6 % change on previous year | +129.0% |
| 1988 | 7.71 % change on previous year | -75.6% |
| 1989 | 3.92 % change on previous year | -49.1% |
| 1990 | 16.65 % change on previous year | +324.4% |
| 1991 | 7.26 % change on previous year | -56.4% |
| 1992 | 8.69 % change on previous year | +19.7% |
| 1993 | 0.1626 % change on previous year | -98.1% |
| 1994 | 4.29 % change on previous year | +2539.2% |
| 1995 | 11.87 % change on previous year | +176.6% |
| 1996 | -4.95 % change on previous year | -141.7% |
| 1997 | 3.52 % change on previous year | -171.1% |
| 1998 | -9.47 % change on previous year | -369.0% |
| 1999 | -0.9583 % change on previous year | -89.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1558 % change on previous year | -116.3% |
| 2001 | -10.76 % change on previous year | -7005.8% |
| 2002 | -4.68 % change on previous year | -56.5% |
| 2003 | 52.62 % change on previous year | -1223.8% |
| 2004 | 29.84 % change on previous year | -43.3% |
| 2005 | 12.92 % change on previous year | -56.7% |
| 2006 | 5.19 % change on previous year | -59.8% |
| 2007 | 9.62 % change on previous year | +85.3% |
| 2008 | -5.09 % change on previous year | -152.9% |
| 2009 | 4.31 % change on previous year | -184.7% |
| 2010 | 26.57 % change on previous year | +516.5% |
| 2011 | 9.78 % change on previous year | -63.2% |
| 2012 | -5.19 % change on previous year | -153.1% |
| 2013 | -7.72 % change on previous year | +48.5% |
| 2014 | -4.91 % change on previous year | -36.3% |
| 2015 | -9.05 % change on previous year | +84.2% |
| 2016 | -6.67 % change on previous year | -26.3% |
| 2017 | 17.88 % change on previous year | -368.1% |
| 2018 | 6.24 % change on previous year | -65.1% |
| 2019 | -3.93 % change on previous year | -163.0% |
| 2020 | -13.19 % change on previous year | +235.5% |
| 2021 | 24.27 % change on previous year | -284.0% |
| 2022 | -2.95 % change on previous year | -112.2% |
| 2023 | -6.42 % change on previous year | +117.5% |
| 2024 | 5.17 % change on previous year | -180.5% |
| 2025 | 6.49 % change on previous year | +25.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.49 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.58 % change on previous year, 99% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.49 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.48 % change on previous year, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP (current US$), annual growth rate (Country official) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -7005.8% | 0.1558 % change on previous year | -10.76 % change on previous year |
| 1994 | +2539.2% | 0.1626 % change on previous year | 4.29 % change on previous year |
| 2003 | +1223.8% | -4.68 % change on previous year | 52.62 % change on previous year |
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 | 13.11 % change on previous year | -4.09 % change on previous year | 35.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.14 % change on previous year | -24.05 % change on previous year | 41.84 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.71 % change on previous year | -9.47 % change on previous year | 16.65 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.41 % change on previous year | -10.76 % change on previous year | 52.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3 % change on previous year | -9.05 % change on previous year | 26.57 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.23 % change on previous year | -13.19 % change on previous year | 24.27 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 130 Algeria 6.58 % change on previous year compare
- 131 France 6.51 % change on previous year compare
- 132 Turks and Caicos Islands 6.51 % change on previous year compare
- 134 Costa Rica 6.4 % change on previous year compare
- 135 Cayman Islands 6.25 % change on previous year compare
- 136 Eswatini, Kingdom of 6.21 % 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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Gdp (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa was 6.49 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gdp (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.62 % change on previous year in 2003.
- What is the lowest gdp (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.05 % change on previous year in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp (current us$), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 133rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gdp (current us$), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 171.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of GDP (current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in GDP (current US$). 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 US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.