GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: GDP per capita was 5,713 constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5,713 constant 2015 US$
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
118th
of 209 countries
All-time high
6,171 constant 2015 US$
in 2013
All-time low
3,993 constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
GDP per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, gdp per capita in South Africa stood at 5,713 constant 2015 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 6,171 constant 2015 US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3,993 constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 118th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3,993 constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 4,032 constant 2015 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 4,156 constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 4,329 constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 4,532 constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1965 | 4,664 constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 4,722 constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 4,907 constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 4,954 constant 2015 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 5,030 constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 5,136 constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 5,201 constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 5,137 constant 2015 US$ | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 5,221 constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 5,386 constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 5,328 constant 2015 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 5,302 constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 5,156 constant 2015 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 5,168 constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 5,221 constant 2015 US$ | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 5,400 constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 5,499 constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 5,291 constant 2015 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 5,015 constant 2015 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 5,092 constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 4,865 constant 2015 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 4,713 constant 2015 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 4,664 constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 4,714 constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 4,687 constant 2015 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 4,544 constant 2015 US$ | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 4,396 constant 2015 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 4,226 constant 2015 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 4,194 constant 2015 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 4,258 constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 4,337 constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 4,466 constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 4,527 constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 4,495 constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 4,553 constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 4,701 constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 4,786 constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 4,917 constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 5,012 constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 5,187 constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 5,406 constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 5,651 constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 5,891 constant 2015 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 6,010 constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 5,847 constant 2015 US$ | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 5,954 constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 6,067 constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 6,122 constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 6,171 constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 6,155 constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 6,112 constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 6,095 constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 6,126 constant 2015 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 6,117 constant 2015 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 6,033 constant 2015 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 5,570 constant 2015 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 5,751 constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 5,787 constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 5,757 constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 5,715 constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 5,713 constant 2015 US$ | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,532 constant 2015 US$ | 3,993 constant 2015 US$ | 5,030 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 5,225 constant 2015 US$ | 5,136 constant 2015 US$ | 5,386 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,994 constant 2015 US$ | 4,664 constant 2015 US$ | 5,499 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,400 constant 2015 US$ | 4,194 constant 2015 US$ | 4,553 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,341 constant 2015 US$ | 4,701 constant 2015 US$ | 6,010 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,095 constant 2015 US$ | 5,954 constant 2015 US$ | 6,171 constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,715 constant 2015 US$ | 5,570 constant 2015 US$ | 5,787 constant 2015 US$ | 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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,610 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 4.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.5058 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 3,337 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Gdp per capita in South Africa was 5,713 constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6,171 constant 2015 US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,993 constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 118th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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) – 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
Average economic output per person in a country or region per year. This data is adjusted by inflation but _does not_ account for differences in living costs between countries.