Gdp vs happiness in South Africa

South Africa: Gdp vs happiness was 5.01 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
5.01
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
103rd
of 157 countries
All-time high
5.42
in 2023
All-time low
4.46
in 2015
Years of data
14
2011–2025

Gdp vs happiness in South Africa, 2011–2025

02462011201820252011: 5.12012: 52014: 4.62015: 4.52016: 4.82017: 4.72018: 4.72019: 4.82020: 52021: 5.22022: 5.32023: 5.42024: 5.22025: 5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gdp vs happiness in South Africa is 5.01, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gdp vs happiness in South Africa peaked at 5.42 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.46, in 2015.

That places South Africa 103rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Gdp vs happiness in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Gdp vs happiness in South Africa, 2011 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2011 5.1
2012 4.96 -2.7%
2014 4.64 -6.5%
2015 4.46 -3.9%
2016 4.83 +8.3%
2017 4.72 -2.2%
2018 4.72 -0.0%
2019 4.81 +2.0%
2020 4.96 +2.9%
2021 5.19 +4.8%
2022 5.28 +1.6%
2023 5.42 +2.8%
2024 5.21 -3.9%
2025 5.01 -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 4.78 4.46 5.1 8
2020s 5.18 4.96 5.42 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 100 Nepal 5.15 compare
  2. 101 Cameroon 5.08 compare
  3. 102 Bhutan 5.08 compare
  4. 104 Azerbaijan 4.99 compare
  5. 105 Niger 4.94 compare
  6. 106 Pakistan 4.87 compare

See the full ranking of 157 places →

More economy & growth data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gdp vs happiness in South Africa?
Gdp vs happiness in South Africa was 5.01 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest gdp vs happiness recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.42 in 2023.
What is the lowest gdp vs happiness recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.46 in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for gdp vs happiness?
South Africa ranks 103rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
Is gdp vs happiness rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Gdp vs happiness. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gdp vs happiness in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/gdp-vs-happiness/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Gdp vs happiness
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
157 places, 2,073 data points, 2011–2025
Last refreshed