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.

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.

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.

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.

Key information about South Africa Real GDP Growth

• The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 1.1 % YoY in Jun 2025, following a growth of 0.5 % in the previous quarter.
• Real GDP Growth YoY data in South Africa is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1961 to Jun 2025, with an average rate of -1.3 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19.2 % in Jun 2021 and a record low of -16.8 % in Jun 2020.

CEIC calculates Real GDP Growth from quarterly Real GDP. Statistics South Africa provides Real GDP in local currency, at 2015 prices. Real GDP Growth prior to Q1 1994 is calculated from Real GDP at 2010 prices.


Related information about South Africa Real GDP Growth

• In the latest reports, Nominal GDP of South Africa reached 103.1 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 1.7 % in Jun 2025.
• GDP Per Capita in South Africa reached 6,474.8 USD in Dec 2024.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 13.5 % in Jun 2025.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 14.5 % in Jun 2025.
• Public Consumption accounted for 18.5 % in Jun 2025.
• Private Consumption accounted for 64.0 % in Jun 2025.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 2.10 percent in the third quarter of 2025 over the same quarter of the previous year. This dataset provides - South Africa GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about South Africa Nominal GDP Growth

• South Africa Nominal GDP Growth was reported at 2.772 % in Jun 2025.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 2.653 % for Mar 2025.
• South Africa Nominal GDP Growth data is updated quarterly, averaging 13.105 % from Mar 1961 to Jun 2025, with 258 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 34.616 % in Sep 1980 and a record low of -13.481 % in Jun 2020.
• South Africa Nominal GDP Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Nominal GDP: Y-o-Y Growth: Quarterly: Seasonally Adjusted.

CEIC calculates quarterly Nominal GDP Growth from quarterly Nominal GDP. South African Reserve Bank provides Nominal GDP in local currency.

Botswana's GDP per capita amounted to eight thousand U.S. dollars in 2025, the highest in Southern Africa. South Africa ranked second, with a GDP per capita worth around 6.5 thousand U.S. dollars. Mozambique, on the other hand, had the lowest average product per person, of about 680 U.S. dollars.

In 2024, the growth of the real gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa was estimated at about 0.58 percent. Between 1980 and 2024, the figure dropped by approximately 6.04 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The forecast shows the growth will steadily grow by around 1.23 percentage points from 2024 to 2030.This indicator describes the annual change in the gross domestic product at constant prices, expressed in national currency units. Here the gross domestic product represents the total value of the final goods and services produced during a year.

Key information about South Africa Investment: % of GDP

• South Africa Investment accounted for 14.5 % of its Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with a ratio of 13.7 % in the previous quarter.
• South Africa investment share of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Jun 2025, with an average ratio of 16.1 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 40.6 % in Sep 1981 and a record low of 10.1 % in Dec 2020.

CEIC calculates Investment as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Nominal Gross Capital Formation and quarterly Nominal GDP. Gross Capital Formation is calculated as the sum of Gross Fixed Capital Formation and Changes in Inventories. Statistics South Africa provides Nominal Gross Capital Formation in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about South Africa Investment: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, South Africa GDP expanded 1.1 % YoY in Jun 2025.
• South Africa Nominal GDP reached 103.1 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 1.7 % in Jun 2025.
• South Africa GDP Per Capita reached 6,474.8 USD in Dec 2024.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 13.5 % in Jun 2025.

Household debt to GDP, in percent in South Africa, March, 2025 The most recent value is 33.7 percent as of March 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 33.8 percent. Historically, the average for South Africa from March 2008 to March 2025 is 37.24 percent. The minimum of 33.7 percent was recorded in March 2025, while the maximum of 44.4 percent was reached in March 2008. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Leading Economic Index South Africa decreased 1.20 percent in September of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Leading Economic Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product for South Africa (NGDPRSAXDCZAQ) from Q1 1993 to Q1 2025 about South Africa, real, and GDP.

Key information about South Africa GDP Per Capita

• South Africa Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita reached 6,474.783 USD in Dec 2024, compared with 6,223.776 USD in Dec 2023.
• South Africa GDP Per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1957 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 3,058.360 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 20,596.090 USD in Dec 2025 and a record low of 814.130 in Dec 2004.
• CEIC converts annual GDP per Capita into USD. South African Reserve Bank provides GDP per Capita in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Related information about South Africa GDP Per Capita data

• In the latest reports, South Africa GDP expanded 1.051 % YoY in Jun 2025.
• South Africa Nominal GDP reached 103.116 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 1.703 % in Jun 2025.
• Gross Savings Rate of South Africa was measured at 13.500 % in Jun 2025.

Key information about South Africa Public Consumption: % of GDP

• South Africa Public Consumption accounted for 18.5 % of its Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with a share of 19.5 % in the previous quarter.
• South Africa Public Consumption share of Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Jun 2025, with an average number of 18.2 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 22.7 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 8.6 % in Jun 1963.

CEIC calculates Government Consumption as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Consumption Expenditure and quarterly Nominal GDP. Statistics South Africa provides Government Consumption Expenditure in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about South Africa Public Consumption: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, South Africa GDP expanded 1.1 % YoY in Jun 2025.
• South Africa Nominal GDP reached 103.1 USD bn in Jun 2025.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 1.7 % in Jun 2025.
• South Africa GDP Per Capita reached 6,474.8 USD in Dec 2024.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 13.5 % in Jun 2025.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 14.5 % in Jun 2025.
• Private Consumption accounted for 64.0 % in Jun 2025.

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.

Investment, billion currency units in South Africa, June, 2025 The most recent value is 256.66 billion South African Rand as of Q2 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 261.32 billion South African Rand. Historically, the average for South Africa from Q1 1993 to Q2 2025 is 127.22 billion South African Rand. The minimum of 16.67 billion South African Rand was recorded in Q1 1993, while the maximum of 272.23 billion South African Rand was reached in Q3 2024. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

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

Key information about South Africa Total Exports

• South Africa Total Exports expanded 7.5 % YoY in Oct 2025, compared with an increase of 9.6 % YoY in the previous month
• South Africa Total Exports Growth data is updated monthly, available from Oct 2005 to Oct 2025, with an averaged rate of -3.3 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 210.3 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -49.9 % in Apr 2020

CEIC calculates Total Exports Growth from monthly Total Exports. South African Revenue Service provides Total Exports, FOB, in local currency. Total Exports Growth prior to January 2011 exclude Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.


Further information about South Africa Total Exports

• In the latest reports, South Africa Total Exports recorded 11.1 USD bn in Oct 2025
• Total Imports recorded 10.2 USD bn in Oct 2025, which registered an increase of 7.3 % year on year
• South Africa Trade Balance recorded a surplus of 902.1 USD mn in Oct 2025