Tourism contribution to GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Tourism contribution to GDP was 3.5% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Tourism contribution to GDP in South Africa, 2008–2022
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.5% for tourism contribution to gdp in 2022.
That represents a change of up 56.9% on the previous year and up 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tourism contribution to gdp in South Africa peaked at 3.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 39th out of 100 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Tourism contribution to GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
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
- 36 New Zealand 3.7% compare
- 37 Samoa 3.7% compare
- 38 Kyrgyzstan 3.6% compare
- 40 El Salvador 3.5% compare
- 41 Belgium 3.4% compare
- 42 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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 11.78 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 77,700 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5921 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,907 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8472 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tourism contribution to gdp in South Africa?
- Tourism contribution to gdp in South Africa was 3.5% in 2022, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tourism contribution to gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest tourism contribution to gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for tourism contribution to gdp?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 100 countries with data for 2022.
- Is tourism contribution to 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 UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Tourism contribution to GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of a country's GDP that comes directly from tourism, including spending by visitors and the industries that serve them.