Annual growth of GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Annual growth of GDP per capita was -0.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.0%
Change on year
up 94.2%
World rank
176th
of 212 countries
All-time high
4.7%
in 1964
All-time low
-7.7%
in 2020
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Annual growth of GDP per capita in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -0.0% for annual growth of gdp per capita in 2025.
That represents a change of up 94.2% on the previous year and up 94.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 4.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -7.7%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 176th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.0% | — |
| 1962 | 3.1% | +215.7% |
| 1963 | 4.2% | +35.9% |
| 1964 | 4.7% | +12.6% |
| 1965 | 2.9% | -38.0% |
| 1966 | 1.3% | -57.0% |
| 1967 | 3.9% | +211.8% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | -75.5% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | +60.0% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | +37.5% |
| 1971 | 1.3% | -39.7% |
| 1972 | -1.2% | -196.0% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | -233.3% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | +94.6% |
| 1975 | -1.1% | -134.3% |
| 1976 | -0.5% | -55.7% |
| 1977 | -2.8% | +475.8% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -108.7% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +324.2% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | +236.2% |
| 1981 | 1.8% | -46.4% |
| 1982 | -3.8% | -305.4% |
| 1983 | -5.2% | +38.4% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -129.2% |
| 1985 | -4.5% | -392.4% |
| 1986 | -3.1% | -29.7% |
| 1987 | -1.0% | -67.0% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | -204.0% |
| 1989 | -0.6% | -153.2% |
| 1990 | -3.1% | +434.2% |
| 1991 | -3.3% | +6.6% |
| 1992 | -3.9% | +19.2% |
| 1993 | -0.8% | -80.3% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -302.3% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +20.4% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | +59.3% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -53.4% |
| 1998 | -0.7% | -151.6% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | -281.4% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +152.0% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | -44.0% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | +49.5% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -29.2% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | +81.9% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | +20.2% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | -52.8% |
| 2009 | -2.7% | -234.8% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -167.5% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -52.8% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -10.2% |
| 2014 | -0.3% | -131.9% |
| 2015 | -0.7% | +169.9% |
| 2016 | -0.3% | -60.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -279.5% |
| 2018 | -0.1% | -127.6% |
| 2019 | -1.4% | +904.0% |
| 2020 | -7.7% | +456.3% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -142.4% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | -80.8% |
| 2023 | -0.5% | -183.8% |
| 2024 | -0.7% | +36.2% |
| 2025 | -0.0% | -94.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.6% | 1.0% | 4.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.4% | -2.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.0% | -5.2% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3% | -3.9% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | -2.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | -1.4% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8% | -7.7% | 3.3% | 6 |
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 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 5,158 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 9.97 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in South Africa was -0.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 1964.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.7% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 176th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.