GNI per capita in South Africa
South Africa: GNI per capita was 5,561 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
GNI per capita in South Africa, 1990–2020
Source: World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Measured in US$.
Analysis
In 2020, gni per capita in South Africa stood at 5,561 US$.
The figure is down 13.9% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gni per capita in South Africa peaked at 8,605 US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2,737 US$, in 2002.
That places South Africa 104th out of 206 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
GNI per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,309 US$ | — |
| 1991 | 3,499 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 3,724 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 3,647 US$ | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 3,725 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 4,075 US$ | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 3,791 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 3,856 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 3,430 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1999 | 3,345 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 3,304 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 2,890 US$ | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 2,737 US$ | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 4,118 US$ | +50.5% |
| 2004 | 5,318 US$ | +29.1% |
| 2005 | 5,930 US$ | +11.5% |
| 2006 | 6,161 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 6,582 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 6,171 US$ | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 6,401 US$ | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 7,990 US$ | +24.8% |
| 2011 | 8,605 US$ | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 8,016 US$ | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 7,287 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 6,815 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 6,116 US$ | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 5,609 US$ | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 6,505 US$ | +16.0% |
| 2018 | 6,810 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 6,459 US$ | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 5,561 US$ | -13.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,640 US$ | 3,309 US$ | 4,075 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,961 US$ | 2,737 US$ | 6,582 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,021 US$ | 5,609 US$ | 8,605 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,561 US$ | 5,561 US$ | 5,561 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 101 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6,030 US$ compare
- 102 Peru 5,955 US$ compare
- 103 North Macedonia 5,620 US$ compare
- 105 Ecuador 5,468 US$ compare
- 106 Equatorial Guinea 5,313 US$ compare
- 107 Colombia 5,264 US$ 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)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1528 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per capita 1,008 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per capita 18,029 current LCU per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 3.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gni per capita in South Africa?
- Gni per capita in South Africa was 5,561 US$ in 2020, according to World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.
- What is the highest gni per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8,605 US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest gni per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,737 US$ in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for gni per capita?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 206 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gni per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files, published as part of GNI per capita (US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GNI per capita is gross national income divided by midyear population. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in current U.S. dollars.