Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate was 0.099 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.099 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 95.3%
World rank
140th
of 184 countries
All-time high
12.96 % change on previous year
in 1973
All-time low
-8.73 % change on previous year
in 2020
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1951–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate in South Africa is 0.099 % change on previous year, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 95.3% on the previous year and up 449.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 12.96 % change on previous year in 1973 and was at its lowest, -8.73 % change on previous year, in 2020.
That places South Africa 140th out of 184 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 4.19 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | -6.61 % change on previous year | -258.0% |
| 1953 | 10.34 % change on previous year | -256.3% |
| 1954 | 8.52 % change on previous year | -17.6% |
| 1955 | 4.02 % change on previous year | -52.8% |
| 1956 | 6.29 % change on previous year | +56.4% |
| 1957 | 5.85 % change on previous year | -7.0% |
| 1958 | 0.2453 % change on previous year | -95.8% |
| 1959 | 1.75 % change on previous year | +613.7% |
| 1960 | 4.42 % change on previous year | +152.4% |
| 1961 | 4.2 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1962 | 4.65 % change on previous year | +10.6% |
| 1963 | 8.48 % change on previous year | +82.6% |
| 1964 | 7.05 % change on previous year | -17.0% |
| 1965 | 5.72 % change on previous year | -18.8% |
| 1966 | 4.53 % change on previous year | -20.8% |
| 1967 | 7.31 % change on previous year | +61.3% |
| 1968 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -53.4% |
| 1969 | 7.18 % change on previous year | +110.6% |
| 1970 | 5.71 % change on previous year | -20.5% |
| 1971 | 0.5591 % change on previous year | -90.2% |
| 1972 | 3.2 % change on previous year | +473.0% |
| 1973 | 12.96 % change on previous year | +304.7% |
| 1974 | 5.84 % change on previous year | -54.9% |
| 1975 | 0.1417 % change on previous year | -97.6% |
| 1976 | 0.2396 % change on previous year | +69.1% |
| 1977 | -2.15 % change on previous year | -996.3% |
| 1978 | 4.41 % change on previous year | -305.2% |
| 1979 | 3.87 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 1980 | 10.3 % change on previous year | +166.2% |
| 1981 | 4.95 % change on previous year | -51.9% |
| 1982 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -67.0% |
| 1983 | 0.7312 % change on previous year | -55.3% |
| 1984 | 2.89 % change on previous year | +295.2% |
| 1985 | -1.31 % change on previous year | -145.2% |
| 1986 | -0.7969 % change on previous year | -39.0% |
| 1987 | 6.48 % change on previous year | -913.1% |
| 1988 | 2.72 % change on previous year | -58.0% |
| 1989 | 0.6823 % change on previous year | -74.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2866 % change on previous year | -58.0% |
| 1991 | 2.64 % change on previous year | +821.9% |
| 1992 | 0.8854 % change on previous year | -66.5% |
| 1993 | 5.32 % change on previous year | +500.4% |
| 1994 | 2.69 % change on previous year | -49.4% |
| 1995 | 6.05 % change on previous year | +125.3% |
| 1996 | 5.04 % change on previous year | -16.8% |
| 1997 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -42.5% |
| 1998 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -52.3% |
| 1999 | 0.4245 % change on previous year | -69.3% |
| 2000 | 5.39 % change on previous year | +1169.5% |
| 2001 | 3.71 % change on previous year | -31.2% |
| 2002 | 7.33 % change on previous year | +97.6% |
| 2003 | 3.64 % change on previous year | -50.3% |
| 2004 | 4.82 % change on previous year | +32.5% |
| 2005 | 8.5 % change on previous year | +76.3% |
| 2006 | 6.75 % change on previous year | -20.6% |
| 2007 | 5.94 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 2008 | 1.31 % change on previous year | -77.9% |
| 2009 | -1.75 % change on previous year | -233.5% |
| 2010 | 4.29 % change on previous year | -344.7% |
| 2011 | 4.18 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2012 | -0.1209 % change on previous year | -102.9% |
| 2013 | -0.0283 % change on previous year | -76.6% |
| 2014 | 0.4795 % change on previous year | -1794.7% |
| 2015 | 1.45 % change on previous year | +203.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3513 % change on previous year | -75.8% |
| 2017 | 1.81 % change on previous year | +413.9% |
| 2018 | -3.84 % change on previous year | -312.9% |
| 2019 | -1.17 % change on previous year | -69.7% |
| 2020 | -8.73 % change on previous year | +648.6% |
| 2021 | 1.04 % change on previous year | -111.9% |
| 2022 | 2.12 % change on previous year | +103.8% |
| 2023 | 0.099 % change on previous year | -95.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +1794.7% | -0.0283 % change on previous year | 0.4795 % change on previous year |
| 2000 | +1169.5% | 0.4245 % change on previous year | 5.39 % change on previous year |
| 1977 | -996.3% | 0.2396 % change on previous year | -2.15 % change on previous year |
| 1987 | +913.1% | -0.7969 % change on previous year | 6.48 % change on previous year |
| 1991 | +821.9% | 0.2866 % change on previous year | 2.64 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.84 % change on previous year | -6.61 % change on previous year | 10.34 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 5.69 % change on previous year | 3.41 % change on previous year | 8.48 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.48 % change on previous year | -2.15 % change on previous year | 12.96 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.83 % change on previous year | -1.31 % change on previous year | 10.3 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.76 % change on previous year | 0.2866 % change on previous year | 6.05 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.56 % change on previous year | -1.75 % change on previous year | 8.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7401 % change on previous year | -3.84 % change on previous year | 4.29 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.37 % change on previous year | -8.73 % change on previous year | 2.12 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 137 Syria 0.14 % change on previous year compare
- 138 Ecuador 0.1397 % change on previous year compare
- 139 Netherlands 0.1133 % change on previous year compare
- 141 Czechia 0.0118 % change on previous year compare
- 142 Bosnia and Herzegovina -0.2111 % change on previous year compare
- 143 Germany -0.2313 % change on previous year 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate in South Africa was 0.099 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.96 % change on previous year in 1973.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.73 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 140th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 449.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Gross domestic product (GDP). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Gross domestic product (GDP) Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Gross domestic product (GDP). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.