GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa
South Africa: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 114,616 current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
114,616 current LCU
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
103rd
of 211 countries
All-time high
114,616 current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
680.25 current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in South Africa is 114,616 current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 114,616 current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 680.25 current LCU, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 103rd 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 per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 680.25 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 729.84 current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 798.24 current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1973 | 950.14 current LCU | +19.0% |
| 1974 | 1,125 current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1975 | 1,235 current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1976 | 1,356 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 1,453 current LCU | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 1,610 current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1979 | 1,854 current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1980 | 2,359 current LCU | +27.3% |
| 1981 | 2,676 current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1982 | 2,950 current LCU | +10.2% |
| 1983 | 3,274 current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1984 | 3,694 current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 4,100 current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 4,633 current LCU | +13.0% |
| 1987 | 5,266 current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1988 | 6,143 current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1989 | 7,151 current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1990 | 8,004 current LCU | +11.9% |
| 1991 | 8,956 current LCU | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 9,875 current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1993 | 11,109 current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 12,387 current LCU | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 13,985 current LCU | +12.9% |
| 1996 | 15,553 current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 17,050 current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 18,296 current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1999 | 19,809 current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 22,331 current LCU | +12.7% |
| 2001 | 24,512 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2002 | 28,336 current LCU | +15.6% |
| 2003 | 30,730 current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 33,729 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 37,119 current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 41,153 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 46,442 current LCU | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 51,094 current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 54,017 current LCU | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 58,376 current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 62,780 current LCU | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 66,311 current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 70,752 current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 74,357 current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 77,936 current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 83,122 current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 88,109 current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 91,502 current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 94,402 current LCU | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 91,852 current LCU | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 101,136 current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2022 | 106,696 current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 111,117 current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 114,616 current LCU | +3.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 114,616 current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 125,072 current LCU, 92% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 114,616 current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 591,280 current LCU, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,179 current LCU | 680.25 current LCU | 1,854 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,225 current LCU | 2,359 current LCU | 7,151 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,502 current LCU | 8,004 current LCU | 19,809 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 36,946 current LCU | 22,331 current LCU | 54,017 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 76,765 current LCU | 58,376 current LCU | 94,402 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 105,083 current LCU | 91,852 current LCU | 114,616 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 per capita in South Africa?
- Gdp per capita in South Africa was 114,616 current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 114,616 current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 680.25 current LCU in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 103rd out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.1%. 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 per capita (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