The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 0.50 percent in the third quarter of 2025 over the previous quarter. This dataset provides - South Africa GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

As of 2023, the GDP of Africa was estimated at roughly 3.1 trillion U.S. dollars. This was the highest value since 2010 when the continent's GDP amounted to approximately 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars. The GDP value in Africa generally followed an upward trend in recent years and was estimated to exceed 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars by 2027.

Leading the charge: the three leading African economies

Among the African countries, in 2021, Nigeria had the highest GDP with approximately 442 billion U.S. dollars. South Africa and Egypt followed. These three countries have the largest economies for various reasons. The most notable factors are their population size, natural resources, and level of economic development. Furthermore, Africa was projected to have a real GDP growth rate of 3.9 percent in 2023. Libya was the economy experiencing the highest growth rate in that year.

The Sub-Saharan African economy on the rise

A global comparison showed that Sub-Saharan Africa had the smallest GDP among all world regions in 2021, amounting to 1.87 trillion U.S. dollars. A closer look revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa had a GDP per capita of 1,626.3 U.S. dollars in 2021, again the lowest worldwide. However, the region's economy was forecast to experience continued growth in the following years, with the real GDP increasing by 3.7 percent in 2023.

Historical dataset showing South Africa economic growth by year from 1960 to 2018.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa was worth 400.26 billion US dollars in 2024, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of South Africa represents 0.38 percent of the world economy. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The gross domestic product (GDP) in current prices in South Africa amounted to 401.08 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the GDP rose by 311.67 billion U.S. dollars, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The GDP will steadily rise by 110.94 billion U.S. dollars over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.This indicator describes the gross domestic product at current prices. The values are based upon the GDP in national currency converted to U.S. dollars using market exchange rates (yearly average). The GDP represents the total value of final goods and services produced during a year.

South Africa ZA: Research and Development Expenditure: % of GDP data was reported at 0.723 % in 2013. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.735 % for 2012. South Africa ZA: Research and Development Expenditure: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 0.758 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2013, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.898 % in 2006 and a record low of 0.584 % in 1997. South Africa ZA: Research and Development Expenditure: % of GDP 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: Technology. Gloss domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in South Africa was last recorded at 5708.96 US dollars in 2024. The GDP per Capita in South Africa is equivalent to 45 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa GDP per capita - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Unemployment Rate in South Africa decreased to 31.90 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 33.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Micronesia, Federated States of data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for Jul 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Micronesia, Federated States of data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Jul 2018 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD mn in Aug 2018 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Jul 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Micronesia, Federated States of data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: cif: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Western Hemisphere: Anguilla data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for Nov 2018. South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Western Hemisphere: Anguilla data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Aug 2018 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD mn in Dec 2018 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Aug 2018. South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Western Hemisphere: Anguilla data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Exports: fob: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data was reported at 0.006 USD mn in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.015 USD mn for Jun 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Jan 2017 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.015 USD mn in Jun 2018 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Jul 2017. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: cif: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: French Polynesia data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.002 USD mn for Mar 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: French Polynesia data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.001 USD mn from Mar 2010 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.104 USD mn in Sep 2012 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Jun 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: French Polynesia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: fob: by Country: Quarterly.

South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Marshall Islands, Republic data was reported at 1.597 USD mn in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.592 USD mn for Jul 2018. South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Marshall Islands, Republic data is updated monthly, averaging 2.343 USD mn from Jan 2017 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.894 USD mn in Sep 2017 and a record low of 0.839 USD mn in Feb 2017. South Africa ZA: Exports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Marshall Islands, Republic data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Exports: fob: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: Sierra Leone data was reported at 2.668 USD mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.452 USD mn for Apr 2018. South Africa ZA: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: Sierra Leone data is updated monthly, averaging 1.348 USD mn from Feb 1998 (Median) to May 2018, with 244 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.455 USD mn in Oct 2009 and a record low of -2.515 USD mn in Aug 2013. South Africa ZA: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: Sierra Leone data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Trade Balance: by Country: Monthly.

CCI: High Income: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data was reported at 41.000 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 35.000 % for Mar 2018. CCI: High Income: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data is updated quarterly, averaging -2.600 % from Mar 1995 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 94 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 41.000 % in Jun 2018 and a record low of -52.000 % in Jun 1996. CCI: High Income: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.H006: Consumer Survey.

South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Timor-Leste data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for Apr 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Timor-Leste data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Jan 2010 (Median) to May 2018, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.102 USD mn in Mar 2011 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Apr 2014. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: Timor-Leste data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: fob: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Advanced Economies: San Marino data was reported at 0.001 USD mn in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.001 USD mn for Jul 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Advanced Economies: San Marino data is updated monthly, averaging 0.004 USD mn from Feb 2017 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.068 USD mn in Jun 2017 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Apr 2017. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Advanced Economies: San Marino data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: fob: by Country: Monthly.

CCI: Male: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data was reported at 11.000 % Point in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 33.000 % Point for Jun 2018. CCI: Male: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.000 % Point from Mar 1994 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.000 % Point in Mar 2018 and a record low of -25.000 % Point in Dec 2016. CCI: Male: South Africa Economic Position: Next 12 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.H006: Consumer Survey.

South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Advanced Economies: Vatican data was reported at 0.007 USD mn in Mar 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.002 USD mn for Feb 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Advanced Economies: Vatican data is updated monthly, averaging 0.002 USD mn from Feb 2017 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.009 USD mn in May 2017 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Jul 2017. South Africa ZA: Imports: cif: Advanced Economies: Vatican data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: cif: by Country: Monthly.

South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data was reported at 0.015 USD mn in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.001 USD mn for Mar 2018. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.001 USD mn from Mar 2017 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.015 USD mn in Jun 2018 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in Mar 2017. South Africa ZA: Imports: fob: Emerging and Developing Economies: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.DOT: Imports: fob: by Country: Quarterly.