GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa
South Africa: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp growth in South Africa is 0.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.0% on the previous year and down 59.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in South Africa peaked at 6.6% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -6.2%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 182nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.2% | — |
| 1971 | 4.3% | -18.5% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | -61.3% |
| 1973 | 4.6% | +176.3% |
| 1974 | 6.1% | +33.7% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | -72.3% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | +32.7% |
| 1977 | -0.1% | -104.2% |
| 1978 | 3.0% | -3307.6% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | +25.7% |
| 1980 | 6.6% | +74.7% |
| 1981 | 5.4% | -19.0% |
| 1982 | -0.4% | -107.2% |
| 1983 | -1.8% | +381.6% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | -376.1% |
| 1985 | -1.2% | -123.8% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -101.5% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | +11668.8% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | +99.9% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -43.0% |
| 1990 | -0.3% | -113.3% |
| 1991 | -1.0% | +220.4% |
| 1992 | -2.1% | +109.9% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | -157.7% |
| 1994 | 3.2% | +159.4% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +38.7% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -39.5% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -80.8% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +380.0% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +75.0% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -35.7% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | +37.1% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -20.3% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +15.9% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -40.5% |
| 2009 | -1.5% | -148.2% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -297.6% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -24.4% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -43.1% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -49.7% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +74.2% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | +34.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -83.3% |
| 2020 | -6.2% | -2473.2% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -180.3% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | -61.4% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -63.5% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | -17.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.3%, 17% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +11668.8% | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| 1978 | +3307.6% | -0.1% | 3.0% |
| 2020 | -2473.2% | 0.3% | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.3% | -0.1% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | -1.8% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | -2.1% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | -1.5% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 0.3% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | -6.2% | 5.0% | 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 growth in South Africa?
- Gdp growth in South Africa was 0.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 1980.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.2% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp growth?
- South Africa ranks 182nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.0%. 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 growth (annual %). 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