GDP (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa
South Africa: GDP (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 7.34 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.34 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
66th
of 211 countries
All-time high
7.34 trillion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
15.16 billion current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp in South Africa is 7.34 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and up 77.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp in South Africa peaked at 7.34 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.16 billion current LCU, in 1970.
That places South Africa 66th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15.16 billion current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 16.74 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 18.85 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1973 | 23.08 billion current LCU | +22.5% |
| 1974 | 28.12 billion current LCU | +21.8% |
| 1975 | 31.73 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1976 | 35.78 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1977 | 39.42 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1978 | 44.88 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1979 | 53.08 billion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1980 | 69.64 billion current LCU | +31.2% |
| 1981 | 81.74 billion current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 93.28 billion current LCU | +14.1% |
| 1983 | 107.18 billion current LCU | +14.9% |
| 1984 | 125.21 billion current LCU | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 143.66 billion current LCU | +14.7% |
| 1986 | 167.62 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1987 | 196.55 billion current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1988 | 236.39 billion current LCU | +20.3% |
| 1989 | 283.39 billion current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1990 | 326.13 billion current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1991 | 373.34 billion current LCU | +14.5% |
| 1992 | 419.12 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1993 | 480.99 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 1994 | 545.09 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1995 | 622.90 billion current LCU | +14.3% |
| 1996 | 701.80 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1997 | 778.64 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1998 | 845.73 billion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 925.69 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 1.05 trillion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 2001 | 1.17 trillion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2002 | 1.36 trillion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2003 | 1.49 trillion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 1.65 trillion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 1.84 trillion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 2.06 trillion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 2.35 trillion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 2008 | 2.61 trillion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 2.79 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 3.06 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 3.33 trillion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 3.57 trillion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 3.87 trillion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 4.13 trillion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 4.42 trillion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 4.76 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 5.08 trillion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 5.36 trillion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 5.63 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 5.56 trillion current LCU | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 6.22 trillion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2022 | 6.66 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2023 | 7.02 trillion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 7.34 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.34 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 913.58 billion current LCU, 8.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.34 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.64 trillion current LCU, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.68 billion current LCU | 15.16 billion current LCU | 53.08 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 150.47 billion current LCU | 69.64 billion current LCU | 283.39 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 601.94 billion current LCU | 326.13 billion current LCU | 925.69 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.84 trillion current LCU | 1.05 trillion current LCU | 2.79 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.32 trillion current LCU | 3.06 trillion current LCU | 5.63 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.56 trillion current LCU | 5.56 trillion current LCU | 7.34 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp in South Africa?
- Gdp in South Africa was 7.34 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.34 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.16 billion current LCU in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release