Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita was 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
113th
of 181 countries
All-time high
16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
in 2011
All-time low
7,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in South Africa is 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in South Africa peaked at 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 113th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | — |
| 1961 | 7,788 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 7,911 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 8,326 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +5.2% |
| 1964 | 8,645 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 8,862 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 8,981 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 9,342 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 9,364 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 9,731 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 9,979 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 9,745 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 9,773 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 10,728 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +9.8% |
| 1974 | 11,040 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 10,753 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 10,491 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 9,992 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 10,152 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 10,263 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 10,980 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 11,138 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 10,935 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 10,637 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 10,572 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 10,091 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 9,696 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 10,007 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 9,971 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 9,748 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 9,508 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 9,539 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 9,452 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 9,758 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 9,859 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 10,330 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 10,711 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 10,890 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 10,907 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 10,835 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 11,315 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 11,634 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 12,369 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 12,692 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 13,171 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 14,147 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 14,948 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 15,669 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 15,693 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 15,235 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 15,702 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 15,902 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 15,636 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 15,453 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 15,365 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 15,275 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 15,449 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 14,608 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 14,201 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 12,753 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 12,689 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 12,776 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17,495 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, 72% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,431 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, 3.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,664 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 7,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 9,731 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 10,291 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 9,745 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 11,040 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,378 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 9,696 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 11,138 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,179 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 9,452 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10,907 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 11,315 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 15,693 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,375 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 14,201 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,709 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 12,776 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 110 Sri Lanka 13,280 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 111 Vietnam 13,055 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 112 Lebanon 12,819 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 114 Guatemala 12,209 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 115 Tunisia 12,112 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 116 Belize 11,849 international-$ in 2021 prices per person 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in South Africa?
- Gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in South Africa was 12,620 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16,157 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,687 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for gross domestic product (gdp), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 113th out of 181 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Gross domestic product (GDP) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Gross domestic product (GDP) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Gross domestic product (GDP) Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Gross domestic product (GDP) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.