Gross national expenditure (constant LCU), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Gross national expenditure (constant LCU), per square kilometre was 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
100th
of 165 countries
All-time high
3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
518,364 constant LCU per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Gross national expenditure (constant LCU), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant LCU per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 518,364 constant LCU per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places South Africa 100th out of 165 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross national expenditure (constant LCU), per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant LCU per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 518,364 constant LCU per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 538,752 constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 589,189 constant LCU per square kilometre | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 647,626 constant LCU per square kilometre | +9.9% |
| 1965 | 689,838 constant LCU per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1966 | 705,658 constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 757,142 constant LCU per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1968 | 795,060 constant LCU per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 857,562 constant LCU per square kilometre | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 935,157 constant LCU per square kilometre | +9.0% |
| 1971 | 996,307 constant LCU per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 993,958 constant LCU per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 1.08 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 1.16 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 1.22 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 1.21 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 1.20 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 1.21 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 1.26 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.42 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +13.2% |
| 1981 | 1.52 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.49 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.53 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 1.59 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 1.52 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.49 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 1.54 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 1.64 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 1.69 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 1.70 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.70 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.68 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.70 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 1.79 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 1.87 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 1.94 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 2.00 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.02 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.04 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 2.11 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 2.18 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.27 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 2.38 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 2.56 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 2.69 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 2.92 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 2007 | 3.12 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 3.24 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 3.14 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.26 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 3.43 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 3.53 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 3.62 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.62 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 3.69 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 3.66 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 3.72 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 3.80 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.84 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 3.53 million constant LCU per square kilometre | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 3.71 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 3.88 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.74 million constant LCU per square kilometre, 58% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.61 million constant LCU per square kilometre, 23% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 677,688 constant LCU per square kilometre | 518,364 constant LCU per square kilometre | 857,562 constant LCU per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.13 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 935,157 constant LCU per square kilometre | 1.26 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.54 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 1.42 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 1.69 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.84 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 1.68 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 2.04 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.66 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 2.11 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 3.24 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.62 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 3.26 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 3.84 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.75 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 3.53 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 97 Algeria 4.41 million constant LCU per square kilometre compare
- 98 Ireland 4.29 million constant LCU per square kilometre compare
- 99 Eswatini 4.06 million constant LCU per square kilometre compare
- 101 Palestine 3.73 million constant LCU per square kilometre compare
- 102 Morocco 3.08 million constant LCU per square kilometre compare
- 103 Brunei 3.06 million constant LCU per square kilometre 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 national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa was 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.89 million constant LCU per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,364 constant LCU per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 100th out of 165 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross national expenditure (constant lcu), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. 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 national expenditure (constant LCU), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Gross national expenditure (constant LCU) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Gross national expenditure (constant LCU) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Gross national expenditure Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 national expenditure (constant LCU) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.