Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita was 5,937 current US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita in South Africa is 5,937 current US$ per person, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 7,887 current US$ per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 509.15 current US$ per person, in 1960.
That places South Africa 119th out of 205 countries with data for 2025, 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 value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 509.15 current US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 523.97 current US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 540.68 current US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 579.9 current US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 1964 | 618.04 current US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 1965 | 656.9 current US$ per person | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 692.6 current US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 746.86 current US$ per person | +7.8% |
| 1968 | 782.26 current US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 846.68 current US$ per person | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 903.9 current US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 967.79 current US$ per person | +7.1% |
| 1972 | 987.04 current US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 1,305 current US$ per person | +32.2% |
| 1974 | 1,584 current US$ per person | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 1,596 current US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 1,486 current US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 1,583 current US$ per person | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 1,746 current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 2,072 current US$ per person | +18.7% |
| 1980 | 2,866 current US$ per person | +38.3% |
| 1981 | 2,878 current US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 2,534 current US$ per person | -11.9% |
| 1983 | 2,752 current US$ per person | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 2,333 current US$ per person | -15.2% |
| 1985 | 1,708 current US$ per person | -26.8% |
| 1986 | 1,881 current US$ per person | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 2,402 current US$ per person | +27.7% |
| 1988 | 2,488 current US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 2,495 current US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 2,841 current US$ per person | +13.9% |
| 1991 | 2,995 current US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 3,226 current US$ per person | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 3,150 current US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 3,220 current US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 3,560 current US$ per person | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 3,347 current US$ per person | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 3,422 current US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 3,045 current US$ per person | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 2,980 current US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 2,961 current US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 2,623 current US$ per person | -11.4% |
| 2002 | 2,480 current US$ per person | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 3,742 current US$ per person | +50.9% |
| 2004 | 4,764 current US$ per person | +27.3% |
| 2005 | 5,297 current US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 5,495 current US$ per person | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 5,959 current US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 5,631 current US$ per person | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 5,851 current US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 7,311 current US$ per person | +25.0% |
| 2011 | 7,887 current US$ per person | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 7,330 current US$ per person | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 6,638 current US$ per person | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 6,201 current US$ per person | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 5,505 current US$ per person | -11.2% |
| 2016 | 5,092 current US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 5,985 current US$ per person | +17.5% |
| 2018 | 6,226 current US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 5,875 current US$ per person | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 5,052 current US$ per person | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 6,153 current US$ per person | +21.8% |
| 2022 | 5,872 current US$ per person | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 5,420 current US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 5,648 current US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 5,937 current US$ per person | +5.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5,937 current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,063 current US$ per person, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5,937 current US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,271 current US$ per person, 4.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 649.7 current US$ per person | 509.15 current US$ per person | 846.68 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,423 current US$ per person | 903.9 current US$ per person | 2,072 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,434 current US$ per person | 1,708 current US$ per person | 2,878 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,179 current US$ per person | 2,841 current US$ per person | 3,560 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,480 current US$ per person | 2,480 current US$ per person | 5,959 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,405 current US$ per person | 5,092 current US$ per person | 7,887 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,680 current US$ per person | 5,052 current US$ per person | 6,153 current US$ per person | 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita in South Africa was 5,937 current US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7,887 current US$ per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 509.15 current US$ per person in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 119th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross value added at basic prices (gva) (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. 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 value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.