GNI growth in South Africa
South Africa: GNI growth was 2.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
GNI growth in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.1% for gni growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2,083.8% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gni growth in South Africa peaked at 9.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -3.3%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 111th of 163 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GNI growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.2% | — |
| 1962 | 5.7% | +156.7% |
| 1963 | 6.8% | +17.6% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +32.6% |
| 1965 | 5.5% | -38.6% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | -10.4% |
| 1967 | 8.6% | +74.1% |
| 1968 | 5.1% | -40.6% |
| 1969 | 5.6% | +9.5% |
| 1970 | 4.8% | -13.6% |
| 1971 | 6.0% | +23.6% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | -51.8% |
| 1973 | 9.3% | +222.6% |
| 1974 | 9.0% | -2.9% |
| 1975 | -0.6% | -106.8% |
| 1976 | -0.1% | -90.1% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | -1193.1% |
| 1978 | 3.9% | +491.9% |
| 1979 | 5.9% | +51.1% |
| 1980 | 9.3% | +57.4% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -91.6% |
| 1982 | -1.8% | -333.4% |
| 1983 | -0.8% | -55.5% |
| 1984 | 6.0% | -830.2% |
| 1985 | -0.2% | -102.7% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -367.8% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | +713.0% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | -16.7% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | -62.5% |
| 1990 | -1.3% | -217.0% |
| 1991 | -0.5% | -63.6% |
| 1992 | -2.6% | +471.9% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -124.2% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | +478.4% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -43.2% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | +138.1% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | -58.1% |
| 1998 | -0.2% | -109.5% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -817.0% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +144.5% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -25.9% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | +115.3% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -38.3% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | +72.0% |
| 2005 | 5.5% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | +23.8% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | -30.7% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -25.0% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | -63.1% |
| 2010 | 4.6% | +251.7% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -81.2% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +112.9% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -57.6% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +189.8% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -63.7% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +159.4% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | -49.4% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | +49.9% |
| 2020 | -3.3% | -300.3% |
| 2021 | 6.6% | -303.3% |
| 2022 | -0.6% | -108.6% |
| 2023 | -0.0% | -92.6% |
| 2024 | -0.1% | +153.7% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | -2083.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.9% | 2.2% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.2% | -0.6% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.1% | -1.8% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | -2.6% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 1.3% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 0.8% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | -3.3% | 6.6% | 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)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 4,161 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 11.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 74,434 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5809 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gni growth in South Africa?
- Gni growth in South Africa was 2.1% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gni growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest gni growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.3% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gni growth?
- South Africa ranks 111th out of 163 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gni growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of GNI growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross national income is the total income earned by all residents within an economic territory during an accounting period. It is equal to gross domestic product plus earned income receivable from abroad minus earned income payable abroad. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.