The benchmark interest rate in South Africa was last recorded at 7.25 percent. This dataset provides - South Africa Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about South Africa Policy Rate

• South Africa cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.50 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 7.50 % pa in the previous Jan 2025.
• South Africa Policy Rate averaged 7.00 % pa and is updated monthly, available from Nov 1999 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13.50 % pa in May 2003 and a record low of 3.50 % pa in Oct 2021.

Related information about South Africa Policy Rate

• In the latest reports, South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.41 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Bond Yield: Month End: 10 Years and Over) was reported at 10.52 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.74 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.
• Its Real Effective Exchange Rate was 89.35 in Dec 2024.

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.

South Africa Prime Lending Rate data was reported at 11.000 % pa in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 11.000 % pa for Feb 2025. South Africa Prime Lending Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 10.500 % pa from Jan 2000 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 303 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.000 % pa in May 2003 and a record low of 7.000 % pa in Oct 2021. South Africa Prime Lending Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by South African Reserve Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.M005: Prime Lending Rate.

Lending Rate in South Africa remained unchanged at 10.75 percent in June. This dataset provides - South Africa Lending Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate

• South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER: 2005=100: Month Avg: South Africa) was 89.3 in Dec 2024, compared with the number of 90.0 in the previous month.
• South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate data is updated monthly and averaged 143.5 from Jan 1970 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 143.5 in Aug 1983 and a record low of 63.9 in Dec 2001.

CEIC generates Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2005=100. South African Reserve Bank provides Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2015=100. Producer Price Index for manufactured goods is used as a deflator. An increase in REER indicates reduced competitiveness for the reporting economy.


Related information about South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate

• In the latest reports, South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.4 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.5 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.7 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.

Lower secondary completion rate, male (% of relevant age group) in South Africa was reported at 84.82 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Lower secondary completion rate, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The WC food CPI decreased to 9,5% in July, 0,6 percentage points lower than South Africa’s 10,1%. Load shedding and the weakening exchange rate remains key drivers to upward pressure. The continuous hikes in the repo rate have assisted in the headline CPI decreasing to below 6%, falling within the target range.

Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) in South Africa was reported at 89.35 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Lower secondary completion rate, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate data was reported at 3.045 % pa in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.229 % pa for 2016. South Africa ZA: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.759 % pa from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.673 % pa in 1975 and a record low of 2.584 % pa in 1961. South Africa ZA: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate 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: Interest Rates. Risk premium on lending is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the 'risk free' treasury bill interest rate at which short-term government securities are issued or traded in the market. In some countries this spread may be negative, indicating that the market considers its best corporate clients to be lower risk than the government. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics database.; ;

Lower secondary completion rate, female (% of relevant age group) in South Africa was reported at 94.03 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Lower secondary completion rate, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

South Africa’s inflation has been quite stable for the past years, levelling off between 3.2 and 6.9 percent, and is in fact expected to stabilize at around 4.5 percent in the future. South Africa is a mixed economy, generating most of its GDP through the services sector, especially tourism. However, the country struggles with unemployment and poverty.

Inflation who?

The inflation rate of a country is an important key factor to determine the country’s economic strength. It is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket, containing goods and services on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include, for example, expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, utilities, but also recreational activities, and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. Some of these goods are more volatile than others – food prices, for example, are considered less reliable. The European Central Bank aims to keep inflation at around two percent in the long run.

What happened in 2016?

In 2016, South Africa’s inflation rate peaked at over 6.3 percent, and gross domestic product, and thus economic growth , took a hit, a sure indicator that something was affecting the country’s economic scaffolding: Low growth due to weak demand and an uncertain political future caused a crisis; then-President Jacob Zuma’s alleged mismanagement and unstable reign steeped in controversy and criminal charges even caused the economy’s outlook to be downgraded by ratings agencies. Zuma was relieved of his office in 2018 – ever since, inflation, GDP, and economic growth seem to have stabilized.

Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, gender parity index (GPI) in South Africa was reported at 1.0279 GPI in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, gender parity index - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, male (%) in South Africa was reported at 84.47 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Bank Lending Rate in South Africa decreased to 10.75 percent in May from 11 percent in March of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Prime Overdraft Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, female (%) in South Africa was reported at 86.82 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

As of March 2025, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate among the 19* countries that are members of the G20. The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at **** percent that year. The country has recently been plagued by an economic downturn, including energy shortages and high unemployment levels. On the other hand, Japan had the lowest unemployment rate at just *** percent. Economic inequality in South Africa Not only does South Africa top the G20 in overall unemployment, but it also has a significant level of youth unemployment, as nearly half of the young population is unemployed. Thirty years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa is also still one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a Gini score of ****. The prominence of inequality in the country makes escaping unemployment and underemployment difficult. Japanese economic slowdown While Japan had the lowest unemployment rate out of all G20 nations, as well as the lowest youth unemployment rate out of the G20 nations, Japan’s economy is still facing many challenges. With an aging population, the total Japanese population is facing a rapid decline, meaning that it will struggle to have enough workers participating in the labor market. Despite this, Japan maintains strict immigration policies, limiting the chances for foreign workers to move to Japan. Moreover, Japan has the second lowest fertility rate out of the G7 nations and one of the lowest fertility rates globally, adding another challenge in addressing population shrinkage.

The unemployment rate in South Africa increased by 1.1 percentage points (+3.43 percent) in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. In total, the unemployment rate amounted to 33.17 percent in 2024. This increase was preceded by a declining unemployment rate.The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged under 15 years, or retired persons.Find more statistics on other topics about South Africa with key insights such as gross tertiary enrollment ratio, youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24), and Gender Parity Index (GPI) in youth literacy.

The total fertility rate represents the average number of children that a woman will have over the course of their reproductive years. In South Africa in the early-1920s, the average woman would have 6.5 children over the course of their reproductive years, a rate that would remain fairly constant until 1950. From this point until 2005, South Africa’s fertility rate would drop consistently, and would reach 2.9 children per woman by the beginning of the 21st century. There was a slight increase in fertility in 2005, largely attributed to a diversion of healthcare funding away from contraceptives to funding for treatments for the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, however, the fertility rate would again decrease in the years following this. In 2020, the total fertility rate for South Africa is estimated to be just 2.41 children per woman, a rate much lower than most other Sub-Saharan countries.

Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes (%) in South Africa was reported at 85.64 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Total net enrolment rate, lower secondary, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.