GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: GDP per capita was 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
115th
of 184 countries
All-time high
16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2011
All-time low
6,058 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1952
Years of data
74
1950–2023
GDP per capita in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in South Africa is 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011 and was at its lowest, 6,058 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1952.
That places South Africa 115th out of 184 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6,533 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1951 | 6,645 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 6,058 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.8% |
| 1953 | 6,520 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.6% |
| 1954 | 6,902 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.9% |
| 1955 | 7,004 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 7,261 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 7,498 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 7,332 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 7,277 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 7,406 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 7,521 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 7,662 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 8,091 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.6% |
| 1964 | 8,432 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 8,678 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 8,830 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 9,224 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 9,286 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 9,688 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 9,979 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 9,745 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 9,773 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 10,728 international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.8% |
| 1974 | 11,040 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 10,753 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 10,491 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 9,992 international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 10,152 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 10,263 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 10,980 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 11,138 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 10,935 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 10,637 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 10,572 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 10,091 international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 9,696 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 10,007 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 9,971 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 9,748 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 9,508 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 9,539 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 9,452 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 9,758 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 9,859 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 10,330 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 10,711 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 10,890 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 10,907 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 10,835 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 11,315 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 11,634 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 12,369 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 12,692 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 13,171 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 14,147 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 14,948 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 15,669 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 15,693 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 15,235 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 15,702 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 15,902 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 15,636 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 15,453 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 15,365 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 15,275 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 15,449 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 14,608 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 14,201 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 12,753 international-$ in 2021 prices | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 12,689 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 12,776 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6,903 international-$ in 2021 prices | 6,058 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7,498 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1960s | 8,482 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7,406 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9,688 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 10,291 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9,745 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11,040 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,378 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9,696 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11,138 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,179 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9,452 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10,907 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,687 international-$ in 2021 prices | 11,315 international-$ in 2021 prices | 15,693 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,375 international-$ in 2021 prices | 14,201 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,709 international-$ in 2021 prices | 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices | 12,776 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 112 Viet Nam 13,056 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 113 Lebanon 12,819 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 114 Sri Lanka 12,740 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 116 Guatemala 12,209 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 117 Tunisia 12,112 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 118 Belize 11,849 international-$ in 2021 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Gdp per capita in South Africa was 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,058 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1952.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 115th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average economic output per person in a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.