Seychelles had the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Africa as of 2024. The value amounted to 21.87 thousand U.S. dollars. Mauritius followed with around 13 thousand U.S. dollars, whereas Gabon registered 9.31 thousand U.S. dollars. GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s GDP by its population, meaning that some of the largest economies are not ranked within the leading ten. Impact of COVID-19 on North Africa’s GDP When looking at the GDP growth rate in Africa in 2024, Libya had the largest estimated growth in Northern Africa, a value of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year. Niger and Senegal were at the top of the list with rates of 10.4 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the economy was severe. The growth of the North African real GDP was estimated at minus 1.1 percent in 2020. However, estimations for 2022 looked much brighter, as it was set that the region would see a GDP growth of six percent, compared to four percent in 2021.
Contribution of Tourism Various countries in Africa are dependent on tourism, contributing to the economy. In 2023, travel and tourism were estimated to contribute 182.6 billion U.S. dollars, a clear increase from 96.5 in 2020 following COVID-19. As of 2024, South Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt led tourism in the continent according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index.

This dataset provides values for GDP ANNUAL GROWTH RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Egypt was the largest economy in North Africa in 2022. In that year, its GDP amounted to 435.6 billion U.S. dollars, the second-highest in Africa after Nigeria. Algeria and Morocco followed, with the GDP totaling around 194 billion and 133 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

The real gross domestic product (GDP) of Niger is estimated to have grown by 11.9 percent in 2022, which is the highest estimated growth rate across all African countries. In comparison, Libya's economy is estimated to have contracted by 9.6 percent.

In 2025, Ethiopia's GDP was forecast to reach almost 121 billion U.S. dollars, the highest in East Africa. Kenya followed, with an expected GDP of around 117 billion U.S. dollars. Comoros, on the other hand, had some of the lowest GDPs, at just over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

As of 2023, Niger registered the agricultural sector's highest contribution to the GDP in Africa, at over 47 percent. Comoros and Ethiopia followed, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounting for approximately 37 percent and 36 percent of the GDP, respectively. On the other hand, Botswana, Djibouti, Libya, Zambia, and South Africa were the African countries with the lowest percentage of the GDP generated by the agricultural sector. Agriculture remains a pillar of Africa’s economy Despite the significant variations across countries, agriculture is a key sector in Africa. In 2022, it represented around 17 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, growing by over two percentage points compared to 2011. The agricultural industry also strongly contributes to the continent’s job market. The number of people employed in the primary sector in Africa grew from around 197 million in 2011 to 230 million in 2021. In proportion, agriculture employed approximately 43 percent of Africa’s working population in 2021. Agricultural activities attracted a large share of the labor force in Central, East, and West Africa, which registered percentages over the regional average. On the other hand, North Africa recorded the lowest share of employment in agriculture, as the regional economy relies significantly on the industrial and service sectors. Cereals are among the most produced crops Sudan and South Africa are the African countries with the largest agricultural areas. Respectively, they devote around 113 million and 96.3 million hectares of land to growing crops. Agricultural production varies significantly across African countries in terms of products and volume. Cereals such as rice, corn, and wheat are among the main crops on the continent, also representing a staple in most countries. The leading cereal producers are Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Together, they recorded a cereal output of almost 100 million metric tons in 2021. Additionally, rice production was concentrated in Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, and Tanzania.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 0.60 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 over the previous quarter. This dataset provides - South Africa GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Seychelles recorded the highest Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in Africa as of 2023, at 16,940 U.S. dollars. The African island was, therefore, the only high-income country on the continent, according to the source's classification. Mauritius, Gabon, Botswana, Libya, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, and Namibia were defined as upper-middle-income economies, those with a GNI per capita between 4,516 U.S. dollars and 14,005 U.S. dollars. On the opposite, 20 African countries recorded a GNI per capita below 1,145 U.S. dollars, being thus classified as low-income economies. Among them, Burundi presented the lowest income per capita, some 230 U.S. dollars. Poverty and population growth in Africa Despite a few countries being in the high income and upper-middle countries classification, Africa had a significant number of people living under extreme poverty. However, this number is expected to decline gradually in the upcoming years, with experts forecasting that this number will decrease to almost 400 million individuals by 2030 from nearly 430 million in 2023, despite the continent currently having the highest population growth rate globally. African economic growth and prosperity In recent years, Africa showed significant growth in various industries, such as natural gas production, clean energy generation, and services exports. Furthermore, it is forecast that the GDP growth rate would reach 4.5 percent by 2027, keeping the overall positive trend of economic growth in the continent.

The African market has strong consumer power and high complementarity with our country's trade structure. However, in the past few years, our country's exports to the African market accounted for less than 1% of the total exports, indicating that our products still have a low market share in Africa. The Ministry of Economic Affairs attaches great importance to the development potential of the African market. In addition to establishing the "Ministry of Economic Affairs African Market Promotion Office" with the Foreign Trade Association on March 14, 105, it also collects and consolidates relevant economic and trade statistics of major regional organizations in Africa to increase understanding of the African market, enhance willingness to expand sales, and assist companies in developing the African market. This dataset includes data fields such as the names of various regional organizations in Africa, gross domestic product, annual economic growth rate, trade volume, and total population.

This dataset provides values for INTEREST RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The Seychelles' GDP per capita amounted to 22,000 U.S. dollars in 2025, the highest in East Africa. Mauritius ranked second, with a GDP per capita worth around 13,000 U.S. dollars. Burundi, on the other hand, had the lowest average income per person, at about 160 U.S. dollars.

Key information about South Africa Real GDP Growth

• The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 1.3 % YoY in Dec 2022, following a growth of 4.0 % in the previous quarter.
• Real GDP Growth YoY data in South Africa is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1961 to Dec 2022, with an average rate of 3.0 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19.4 % in Jun 2021 and a record low of -17.0 % in Jun 2020.

• In the latest reports, Nominal GDP of South Africa reached 98.8 USD bn in Sep 2022.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 4.7 % in Sep 2022.
• GDP Per Capita in South Africa reached 6,966.1 USD in Dec 2021.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 15.6 % in Sep 2022.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 14.8 % in Dec 2022.
• Public Consumption accounted for 19.9 % in Dec 2022.
• Private Consumption accounted for 66.6 % in Dec 2022.

This dataset provides values for CORRUPTION RANK reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

South Africa ZA: Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Current PPP data was reported at 726.300 USD bn in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 763.258 USD bn for 2019. South Africa ZA: Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Current PPP data is updated yearly, averaging 355.513 USD bn from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2020, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 763.258 USD bn in 2019 and a record low of 155.747 USD bn in 1981. South Africa ZA: Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Current PPP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.OECD.MSTI: Gross Domestic Product, GDP PPP and GDP Deflator: Non OECD Member: Annual. For the 2001/02 R&D survey in South Africa, no comprehensive business register was available, nor was there any official register of the specific subset of those entities that actually conduct R&D. However, lists of firms surveyed in previous R&D surveys, those covered in previous technology audits, public listings of the top 200 companies in the economy, as well as lists of firms that participate in public innovation and R&D support programmes were available to the survey agency. These lists provided the basis for a purposive sample of all firms known to have R&D activities. There may however be an underestimation of R&D expenditure by 10% to 15%.

Equatorial Guinea GQ: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data was reported at 2.140 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.038 % for 2015. Equatorial Guinea GQ: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 1.808 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2016, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.548 % in 2008 and a record low of 0.021 % in 1987. Equatorial Guinea GQ: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Equatorial Guinea – Table GQ.World Bank: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

South Africa's GDP amounted to just over 418 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, the highest in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe ranked second, with a GDP worth around 37 billion U.S. dollars. Lesotho, on the other hand, ranked the lowest with a GDP of over 2.4 billion U.S. dollars.

This dataset provides values for FOOD INFLATION reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

This dataset provides values for GDP PER CAPITA PPP0 reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

South Africa ZA: Distance to Frontier Score: 0=Lowest Performance To 100=Frontier data was reported at 64.890 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 64.970 NA for 2016. South Africa ZA: Distance to Frontier Score: 0=Lowest Performance To 100=Frontier data is updated yearly, averaging 64.970 NA from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2017, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65.110 NA in 2015 and a record low of 64.890 NA in 2017. South Africa ZA: Distance to Frontier Score: 0=Lowest Performance To 100=Frontier data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Business Environment. Distance to frontier score illustrates the distance of an economy to the 'frontier,' which represents the best performance observed on each Doing Business topic across all economies and years included since 2005. An economy's distance to frontier is indicated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest performance and 100 the frontier. For example, a score of 75 in 2012 means an economy was 25 percentage points away from the frontier constructed from the best performances across all economies and across time. A score of 80 in 2013 would indicate the economy is improving.; ; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Unweighted average; Data are presented for the survey year instead of publication year. Data before 2013 are not comparable with data from 2013 onward due to methodological changes.

As of 2022, the real GDP growth rate in Africa was estimated at 3.7 percent, decreasing compared to the previous year when it stood at 4.8 percent. Africa's real GDP is projected to keep a stable and constant growth trend between 2023 and 2027.

Negative impact of COVID-19

Starting in 2020, the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) caused economic stagnation and recession in most world regions. Economies on the African continent were also negatively affected, as the health crisis determined disruptions across all economic sectors. In 2020, Africa’s real GDP dropped to minus 1.8 percent, an exceptional negative growth rate registered on the continent. Southern Africa was the most affected region, followed by Central and Western Africa, respectively.

Forecast economic growth in Africa

In 2021 and 2022, Africa’s economy showed signs of recovery after the COVID-19 crisis. Growth was expected to continue in the following years, with the total GDP increasing from around three trillion U.S. dollars in 2020 to four trillion U.S. dollars in 2027. The African economy was set to grow at a rapid pace, especially compared to other world regions. By 2027, Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP is estimated to record a growth rate of over four percent, while the European Union’s economy would expand by less than two percent.