Real gdp growth in South Africa
South Africa: Real gdp growth was 1.11 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in South Africa, 1980–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for real gdp growth in South Africa is 1.11, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 108.4% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in South Africa peaked at 6.62 in 1980 and was at its lowest, -6.17, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 162nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Real gdp growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.62 | — |
| 1981 | 5.36 | -19.0% |
| 1982 | -0.383 | -107.1% |
| 1983 | -1.85 | +382.2% |
| 1984 | 5.1 | -376.1% |
| 1985 | -1.21 | -123.8% |
| 1986 | 0.018 | -101.5% |
| 1987 | 2.1 | +11572.2% |
| 1988 | 4.2 | +99.9% |
| 1989 | 2.4 | -43.0% |
| 1990 | -0.318 | -113.3% |
| 1991 | -1.02 | +220.1% |
| 1992 | -2.14 | +109.9% |
| 1993 | 1.23 | -157.7% |
| 1994 | 3.2 | +159.3% |
| 1995 | 3.1 | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 4.3 | +38.7% |
| 1997 | 2.6 | -39.5% |
| 1998 | 0.5 | -80.8% |
| 1999 | 2.4 | +380.0% |
| 2000 | 4.2 | +75.0% |
| 2001 | 2.7 | -35.7% |
| 2002 | 3.7 | +37.0% |
| 2003 | 2.95 | -20.3% |
| 2004 | 4.55 | +54.5% |
| 2005 | 5.28 | +15.9% |
| 2006 | 5.6 | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 5.36 | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 3.19 | -40.5% |
| 2009 | -1.54 | -148.2% |
| 2010 | 3.04 | -297.7% |
| 2011 | 3.17 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.4 | -24.4% |
| 2013 | 2.48 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.41 | -43.1% |
| 2015 | 1.32 | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 0.665 | -49.7% |
| 2017 | 1.16 | +74.1% |
| 2018 | 1.56 | +34.5% |
| 2019 | 0.26 | -83.3% |
| 2020 | -6.17 | -2472.7% |
| 2021 | 4.86 | -178.8% |
| 2022 | 2.06 | -57.6% |
| 2023 | 0.806 | -60.8% |
| 2024 | 0.535 | -33.6% |
| 2025 | 1.11 | +108.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.11 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.49, 32% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.11 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52, 25% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +11572.2% | 0.018 | 2.1 |
| 2020 | -2472.7% | 0.26 | -6.17 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.24 | -1.85 | 6.62 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.39 | -2.14 | 4.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6 | -1.54 | 5.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.75 | 0.26 | 3.17 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.534 | -6.17 | 4.86 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 159 United Kingdom 1.32 compare
- 160 Switzerland 1.27 compare
- 161 Japan 1.19 compare
- 163 São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of 1.11 compare
- 164 Norway 1.08 compare
- 165 Belgium 1.07 compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real gdp growth in South Africa?
- Real gdp growth in South Africa was 1.11 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.62 in 1980.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.17 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for real gdp growth?
- South Africa ranks 162nd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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