Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) in South Africa
South Africa: Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) was 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
35th
of 166 countries
All-time high
723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 2022
All-time low
1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 1820
Years of data
76
1700–2022
Gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa, 1700–2022
Source: Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2011 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, gross domestic product (gdp) in South Africa stood at 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in South Africa peaked at 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, in 1820.
South Africa ranks 35th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2011 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1700 | 2.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | — |
| 1820 | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -32.2% |
| 1870 | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +77.9% |
| 1950 | 54.94 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1577.4% |
| 1951 | 57.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 59.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 62.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 66.02 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.9% |
| 1955 | 69.33 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.0% |
| 1956 | 73.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 75.98 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.8% |
| 1958 | 77.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 81.04 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 84.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 88.08 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 93.01 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 99.83 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.3% |
| 1964 | 106.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.7% |
| 1965 | 112.88 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 117.78 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1967 | 125.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 131.29 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 139.37 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 146.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 153.82 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 156.78 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 163.38 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 172.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 175.75 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 180.03 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 179.68 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 185.01 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 192.30 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 204.70 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 215.44 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1982 | 214.59 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 210.67 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 221.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 218.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 218.89 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 223.31 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 232.51 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 237.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 235.13 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 237.88 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 238.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 247.20 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 261.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 277.58 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 296.91 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 311.99 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 320.15 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 334.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 356.07 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 374.89 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 396.14 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 413.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 439.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 470.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 505.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 542.98 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 571.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 574.77 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 607.60 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 645.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 660.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 677.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 686.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 695.93 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 700.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 708.67 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 719.46 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 721.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 675.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 709.08 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 146.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 4.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.73 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 27.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +1577.4% | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 54.94 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
| 1870 | +77.9% | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
| 1820 | -32.2% | 2.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1700s | 2.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.28 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1950s | 67.75 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 54.94 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 81.04 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1960s | 109.90 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 84.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 139.37 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 170.59 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 146.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 192.30 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 219.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 204.70 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 237.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 276.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 235.13 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 334.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 464.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 356.07 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 574.77 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 682.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 607.60 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 721.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 702.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 675.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 32 Vietnam 833.80 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 33 United Arab Emirates 779.70 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 34 Colombia 742.72 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 36 Algeria 595.82 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 37 Switzerland 559.38 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 38 Iraq 527.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices 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 gross domestic product (gdp) in South Africa?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in South Africa was 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022, according to Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 723.56 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1820.
- How does South Africa rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.