GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: GDP per capita was 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
97th
of 162 countries
All-time high
5,161 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 2015
All-time low
1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
GDP per capita in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices for gdp per capita in 2020.
That represents a change of down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 5,161 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1870.
South Africa ranks 97th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 1,346 international-$ in 1990 prices | +22.6% |
| 1890 | 1,276 international-$ in 1990 prices | -5.2% |
| 1900 | 1,213 international-$ in 1990 prices | -5.0% |
| 1913 | 1,548 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.6% |
| 1925 | 1,605 international-$ in 1990 prices | +3.7% |
| 1929 | 1,656 international-$ in 1990 prices | +3.2% |
| 1933 | 1,490 international-$ in 1990 prices | -10.1% |
| 1938 | 1,993 international-$ in 1990 prices | +33.8% |
| 1950 | 2,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.2% |
| 1955 | 2,830 international-$ in 1990 prices | +11.6% |
| 1960 | 3,041 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.5% |
| 1965 | 3,559 international-$ in 1990 prices | +17.0% |
| 1970 | 4,045 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.7% |
| 1975 | 4,271 international-$ in 1990 prices | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 4,390 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 4,006 international-$ in 1990 prices | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 3,834 international-$ in 1990 prices | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 3,656 international-$ in 1990 prices | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 3,936 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 4,436 international-$ in 1990 prices | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 4,862 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 5,161 international-$ in 1990 prices | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices | -9.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 1,346 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,346 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,346 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 1,276 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,276 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,276 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 1,213 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,213 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,213 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 1,548 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,548 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,548 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,631 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,605 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,656 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 1,741 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,490 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,993 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 2,682 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,535 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,830 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 3,300 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,041 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,559 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 4,158 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,045 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,271 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 4,198 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,006 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,390 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 3,745 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,656 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,834 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 4,186 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,936 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,436 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 5,012 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,862 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,161 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 94 Namibia 4,792 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 95 Egypt 4,733 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 96 Guatemala 4,693 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 98 Ukraine 4,388 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 99 Syrian Arab Republic 4,156 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 100 Philippines 4,101 international-$ in 1990 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Gdp per capita in South Africa was 4,666 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,161 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2015.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,098 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1870.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 97th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.