GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa
South Africa: GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 6,253 current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6,253 current US$
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
126th
of 211 countries
All-time high
8,646 current US$
in 2011
All-time low
952.35 current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in South Africa is 6,253 current US$, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 8,646 current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 952.35 current US$, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 126th of 211 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 952.35 current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 1,020 current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1972 | 1,038 current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 1,369 current US$ | +31.9% |
| 1974 | 1,656 current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1975 | 1,670 current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 1,559 current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 1,671 current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 1,852 current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1979 | 2,202 current US$ | +18.9% |
| 1980 | 3,029 current US$ | +37.6% |
| 1981 | 3,050 current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 2,717 current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1983 | 2,938 current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1984 | 2,504 current US$ | -14.8% |
| 1985 | 1,839 current US$ | -26.5% |
| 1986 | 2,027 current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 2,586 current US$ | +27.6% |
| 1988 | 2,702 current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 2,727 current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 3,093 current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 3,243 current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 3,462 current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 3,400 current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 3,489 current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 3,856 current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 3,618 current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1997 | 3,700 current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 3,310 current US$ | -10.6% |
| 1999 | 3,242 current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 3,218 current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 2,847 current US$ | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 2,688 current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 4,062 current US$ | +51.1% |
| 2004 | 5,221 current US$ | +28.5% |
| 2005 | 5,837 current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 6,077 current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 6,592 current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 6,185 current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 6,375 current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 7,973 current US$ | +25.1% |
| 2011 | 8,646 current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 8,077 current US$ | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 7,332 current US$ | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 6,857 current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 6,112 current US$ | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 5,651 current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 6,618 current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 6,914 current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 6,534 current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 5,581 current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 6,843 current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 6,523 current US$ | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 6,023 current US$ | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 6,253 current US$ | +3.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6,253 current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,656 current US$, 82% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6,253 current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,136 current US$, 5.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,499 current US$ | 952.35 current US$ | 2,202 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,612 current US$ | 1,839 current US$ | 3,050 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,441 current US$ | 3,093 current US$ | 3,856 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,910 current US$ | 2,688 current US$ | 6,592 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,071 current US$ | 5,651 current US$ | 8,646 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,245 current US$ | 5,581 current US$ | 6,843 current US$ | 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 6,253 current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8,646 current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 952.35 current US$ in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 126th 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 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP per capita (current US$). 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