Real gdp growth in South Africa
South Africa: Real gdp growth was 1.11 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.11
Change on year
up 108.4%
World rank
162nd
of 196 countries
All-time high
6.62
in 1980
All-time low
-6.17
in 2020
Years of data
46
1980–2025
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% |
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.32 compare
- 160 Switzerland 1.27 compare
- 161 Japan 1.19 compare
- 163 Sao Tome and Principe 1.11 compare
- 164 Norway 1.08 compare
- 165 Belgium 1.07 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)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1528 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per capita 1,008 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per capita 18,029 current LCU per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 3.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).