South Africa
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 64.7 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in South Africa rose 3.2% in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- South Africa's economy grew 1.1% in 2025, slower than most economies.
- Output per person in South Africa was US$6,598 in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
- 32.4% of South Africa's labour force had no job in 2025, a higher share than in most countries.
- South Africa's central government owed 82.8% of GDP in 2024, more than in most countries with data.
- South Africa had 64.7 million people in 2025: about 0.8% of everyone on Earth, the 24th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- South Africa had a current account deficit of 0.4% of GDP in 2025, close to the middle of the range worldwide.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.2% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.1% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −6.2% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$6,598 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$6,267 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$6,034 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$6,534 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$6,829 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$5,581 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$6,534 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$6,914 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$6,618 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$5,651 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.4% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 32.3% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 32.1% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 33.3% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 34.0% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 29.2% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 28.5% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 26.9% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 27.0% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 26.5% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2024Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.8% | 53.2% |
| 2023 | 79.4% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 76.2% | 55.6% |
| 2021 | 74.1% | 58.8% |
| 2020 | 75.7% | 64.3% |
| 2019 | 64.6% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 59.1% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 56.3% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 53.7% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 52.7% | 49.4% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.7 million |
| 2024 | 64.0 million |
| 2023 | 63.2 million |
| 2022 | 62.4 million |
| 2021 | 61.5 million |
| 2020 | 60.6 million |
| 2019 | 59.6 million |
| 2018 | 58.6 million |
| 2017 | 57.6 million |
| 2016 | 57.3 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Africa | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −0.4% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | −0.6% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | −1.1% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | −0.3% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | −2.6% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | −3.0% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | −2.4% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | −2.6% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show South Africa since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.