GNI per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa
South Africa: GNI per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 112,351 current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
112,351 current LCU
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
100th
of 207 countries
All-time high
112,351 current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
658.98 current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GNI per capita in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 112,351 current LCU for gni per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gni per capita in South Africa peaked at 112,351 current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 658.98 current LCU, in 1970.
That places South Africa 100th out of 207 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.
GNI per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 658.98 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 709.39 current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 775.37 current LCU | +9.3% |
| 1973 | 923.72 current LCU | +19.1% |
| 1974 | 1,091 current LCU | +18.2% |
| 1975 | 1,191 current LCU | +9.1% |
| 1976 | 1,306 current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1977 | 1,398 current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 1,549 current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1979 | 1,785 current LCU | +15.2% |
| 1980 | 2,271 current LCU | +27.3% |
| 1981 | 2,574 current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1982 | 2,843 current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 3,160 current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 3,564 current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 3,936 current LCU | +10.4% |
| 1986 | 4,447 current LCU | +13.0% |
| 1987 | 5,096 current LCU | +14.6% |
| 1988 | 5,956 current LCU | +16.9% |
| 1989 | 6,928 current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1990 | 7,733 current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1991 | 8,743 current LCU | +13.1% |
| 1992 | 9,677 current LCU | +10.7% |
| 1993 | 10,908 current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1994 | 12,192 current LCU | +11.8% |
| 1995 | 13,751 current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 15,257 current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 16,726 current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 17,918 current LCU | +7.1% |
| 1999 | 19,390 current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 21,864 current LCU | +12.8% |
| 2001 | 23,835 current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 27,724 current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2003 | 30,011 current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 33,161 current LCU | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 36,484 current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 40,458 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 45,080 current LCU | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 49,648 current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2009 | 52,932 current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 57,238 current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 61,311 current LCU | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 64,650 current LCU | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 69,042 current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 72,513 current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 76,150 current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 80,993 current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 85,666 current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 88,946 current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 92,046 current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 90,323 current LCU | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 99,209 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 104,476 current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 109,610 current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 112,351 current LCU | +2.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 112,351 current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 124,528 current LCU, 90% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 112,351 current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 598,763 current LCU, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,139 current LCU | 658.98 current LCU | 1,785 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,077 current LCU | 2,271 current LCU | 6,928 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,229 current LCU | 7,733 current LCU | 19,390 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 36,120 current LCU | 21,864 current LCU | 52,932 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 74,856 current LCU | 57,238 current LCU | 92,046 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 103,194 current LCU | 90,323 current LCU | 112,351 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 gni per capita in South Africa?
- Gni per capita in South Africa was 112,351 current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gni per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 112,351 current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gni per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 658.98 current LCU in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for gni per capita?
- South Africa ranks 100th out of 207 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gni per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.9%. 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 GNI 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