Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP was 3.5% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
3.5%
Change on year
up 56.9%
World rank
42nd
of 109 countries
All-time high
3.7%
in 2019
All-time low
2.1%
in 2020
Years of data
15
2008–2022
Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP in South Africa, 2008–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2022, tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp in South Africa stood at 3.5%.
The figure is up 56.9% on the previous year and up 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp in South Africa peaked at 3.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 109 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3.0% | — |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | +34.0% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -42.9% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | +56.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.8%, 1.3× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.8%, 94% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.1% | 3.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Hungary 3.8% compare
- 40 Samoa 3.7% compare
- 41 Kyrgyzstan 3.6% compare
- 43 El Salvador 3.5% compare
- 44 Belgium 3.4% compare
- 45 Tajikistan 3.4% 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 tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp in South Africa?
- Tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp in South Africa was 3.5% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 109 countries with data for 2022.
- Is tourism direct gdp as a proportion of total gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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