GNI per capita growth in South Africa
South Africa: GNI per capita growth was 0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
GNI per capita growth in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gni per capita growth in South Africa is 0.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 163.2% on the previous year and up 1,532.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gni per capita growth in South Africa peaked at 6.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -5.2%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 112th of 167 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 per capita growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.6% | — |
| 1962 | 3.2% | +428.7% |
| 1963 | 3.2% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 4.8% | +50.9% |
| 1965 | 1.6% | -67.1% |
| 1966 | 1.9% | +19.4% |
| 1967 | 4.5% | +138.7% |
| 1968 | 1.8% | -59.6% |
| 1969 | 1.6% | -11.6% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | -59.6% |
| 1971 | 2.0% | +209.3% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -62.5% |
| 1973 | 6.0% | +687.7% |
| 1974 | 4.9% | -17.9% |
| 1975 | -3.3% | -167.7% |
| 1976 | -2.5% | -24.8% |
| 1977 | -1.8% | -29.2% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -144.2% |
| 1979 | 2.1% | +166.3% |
| 1980 | 5.4% | +161.5% |
| 1981 | -1.6% | -129.1% |
| 1982 | -5.1% | +220.4% |
| 1983 | -5.0% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | -149.5% |
| 1985 | -4.0% | -264.2% |
| 1986 | -2.4% | -40.1% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -100.1% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +37143.9% |
| 1989 | -1.8% | -400.4% |
| 1990 | -3.9% | +119.5% |
| 1991 | -3.0% | -21.8% |
| 1992 | -4.0% | +31.1% |
| 1993 | -0.5% | -86.4% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -421.9% |
| 1995 | 0.9% | -49.1% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | +339.5% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | -71.5% |
| 1998 | -1.1% | -200.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -123.8% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +902.4% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -37.4% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +137.7% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | -44.1% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +115.4% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.7% | +25.3% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | -35.6% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -21.5% |
| 2009 | -0.3% | -109.7% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -1300.1% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | -0.5% | -115.8% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -179.5% |
| 2014 | -0.8% | -300.1% |
| 2015 | -0.1% | -92.4% |
| 2016 | -0.1% | +59.0% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | -1472.5% |
| 2018 | -0.6% | -144.5% |
| 2019 | -0.0% | -92.3% |
| 2020 | -5.2% | +10789.2% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | -187.3% |
| 2022 | -1.1% | -123.4% |
| 2023 | -1.3% | +22.5% |
| 2024 | -1.4% | +11.4% |
| 2025 | 0.9% | -163.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.6% | 0.6% | 4.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | -3.3% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.1% | -5.1% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.5% | -4.0% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | -0.3% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | -0.8% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.6% | -5.2% | 4.5% | 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 gni per capita growth in South Africa?
- Gni per capita growth in South Africa was 0.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gni per capita growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.0% in 1973.
- What is the lowest gni per capita growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.2% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gni per capita growth?
- South Africa ranks 112th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gni per capita growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,532.4%. 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 per capita 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. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate.This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.