GDP (current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: GDP (current US$), per capita was 6,253 current US$ per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP (current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6,253 current US$ per person for gdp (current us$), per capita in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp (current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 8,646 current US$ per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 952.35 current US$ per person, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 126th of 211 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (current US$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 952.35 current US$ per person | — |
| 1971 | 1,020 current US$ per person | +7.1% |
| 1972 | 1,038 current US$ per person | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 1,369 current US$ per person | +31.9% |
| 1974 | 1,656 current US$ per person | +21.0% |
| 1975 | 1,670 current US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 1,559 current US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 1,671 current US$ per person | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 1,852 current US$ per person | +10.8% |
| 1979 | 2,202 current US$ per person | +18.9% |
| 1980 | 3,029 current US$ per person | +37.6% |
| 1981 | 3,050 current US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 2,717 current US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 1983 | 2,938 current US$ per person | +8.1% |
| 1984 | 2,504 current US$ per person | -14.8% |
| 1985 | 1,839 current US$ per person | -26.5% |
| 1986 | 2,027 current US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 2,586 current US$ per person | +27.6% |
| 1988 | 2,702 current US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 2,727 current US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 3,093 current US$ per person | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 3,243 current US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 3,462 current US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 3,400 current US$ per person | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 3,489 current US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 3,856 current US$ per person | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 3,618 current US$ per person | -6.2% |
| 1997 | 3,700 current US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 3,310 current US$ per person | -10.6% |
| 1999 | 3,242 current US$ per person | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 3,218 current US$ per person | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 2,847 current US$ per person | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 2,688 current US$ per person | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 4,062 current US$ per person | +51.1% |
| 2004 | 5,221 current US$ per person | +28.5% |
| 2005 | 5,837 current US$ per person | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 6,077 current US$ per person | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 6,592 current US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 6,185 current US$ per person | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 6,375 current US$ per person | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 7,973 current US$ per person | +25.1% |
| 2011 | 8,646 current US$ per person | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 8,077 current US$ per person | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 7,332 current US$ per person | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 6,857 current US$ per person | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 6,112 current US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 5,651 current US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 6,618 current US$ per person | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 6,914 current US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 6,534 current US$ per person | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 5,581 current US$ per person | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 6,843 current US$ per person | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 6,523 current US$ per person | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 6,023 current US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 6,253 current US$ per person | +3.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6,253 current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,636 current US$ per person, 82% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6,253 current US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,165 current US$ per person, 5.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,499 current US$ per person | 952.35 current US$ per person | 2,202 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,612 current US$ per person | 1,839 current US$ per person | 3,050 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,441 current US$ per person | 3,093 current US$ per person | 3,856 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,910 current US$ per person | 2,688 current US$ per person | 6,592 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,071 current US$ per person | 5,651 current US$ per person | 8,646 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,245 current US$ per person | 5,581 current US$ per person | 6,843 current US$ per person | 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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp (current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Gdp (current us$), per capita in South Africa was 6,253 current US$ per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gdp (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8,646 current US$ per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest gdp (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 952.35 current US$ per person in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp (current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 126th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of GDP (current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
GDP (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
GDP (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- GDP UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
GDP (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.