Official exchange rate in South Africa
South Africa: Official exchange rate was 18.33 LCU per US$, period average in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
18.33 LCU per US$, period average
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
96th
of 209 countries
All-time high
18.45 LCU per US$, period average
in 2023
All-time low
0.6795 LCU per US$, period average
in 1974
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Official exchange rate in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in LCU per US$, period average.
Analysis
The most recent figure for official exchange rate in South Africa is 18.33 LCU per US$, period average, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 68.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official exchange rate in South Africa peaked at 18.45 LCU per US$, period average in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.6795 LCU per US$, period average, in 1974.
That places South Africa 96th out of 209 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.
Official exchange rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | LCU per US$, period average | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.7143 LCU per US$, period average | — |
| 1971 | 0.7152 LCU per US$, period average | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 0.7687 LCU per US$, period average | +7.5% |
| 1973 | 0.694 LCU per US$, period average | -9.7% |
| 1974 | 0.6795 LCU per US$, period average | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 0.7395 LCU per US$, period average | +8.8% |
| 1976 | 0.8696 LCU per US$, period average | +17.6% |
| 1977 | 0.8696 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8696 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.842 LCU per US$, period average | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 0.7788 LCU per US$, period average | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 0.8776 LCU per US$, period average | +12.7% |
| 1982 | 1.09 LCU per US$, period average | +23.7% |
| 1983 | 1.11 LCU per US$, period average | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 1.48 LCU per US$, period average | +32.4% |
| 1985 | 2.23 LCU per US$, period average | +51.1% |
| 1986 | 2.29 LCU per US$, period average | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 2.04 LCU per US$, period average | -10.9% |
| 1988 | 2.27 LCU per US$, period average | +11.7% |
| 1989 | 2.62 LCU per US$, period average | +15.4% |
| 1990 | 2.59 LCU per US$, period average | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 2.76 LCU per US$, period average | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 2.85 LCU per US$, period average | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3.27 LCU per US$, period average | +14.6% |
| 1994 | 3.55 LCU per US$, period average | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 3.63 LCU per US$, period average | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 4.3 LCU per US$, period average | +18.5% |
| 1997 | 4.61 LCU per US$, period average | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 5.53 LCU per US$, period average | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 6.11 LCU per US$, period average | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 6.94 LCU per US$, period average | +13.6% |
| 2001 | 8.61 LCU per US$, period average | +24.1% |
| 2002 | 10.54 LCU per US$, period average | +22.4% |
| 2003 | 7.56 LCU per US$, period average | -28.2% |
| 2004 | 6.46 LCU per US$, period average | -14.6% |
| 2005 | 6.36 LCU per US$, period average | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 6.77 LCU per US$, period average | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 7.05 LCU per US$, period average | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 8.26 LCU per US$, period average | +17.3% |
| 2009 | 8.47 LCU per US$, period average | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 7.32 LCU per US$, period average | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 7.26 LCU per US$, period average | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 8.21 LCU per US$, period average | +13.1% |
| 2013 | 9.66 LCU per US$, period average | +17.6% |
| 2014 | 10.85 LCU per US$, period average | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 12.76 LCU per US$, period average | +17.6% |
| 2016 | 14.71 LCU per US$, period average | +15.3% |
| 2017 | 13.32 LCU per US$, period average | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 13.23 LCU per US$, period average | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 14.45 LCU per US$, period average | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 16.46 LCU per US$, period average | +13.9% |
| 2021 | 14.78 LCU per US$, period average | -10.2% |
| 2022 | 16.36 LCU per US$, period average | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 18.45 LCU per US$, period average | +12.8% |
| 2024 | 18.33 LCU per US$, period average | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7762 LCU per US$, period average | 0.6795 LCU per US$, period average | 0.8696 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.68 LCU per US$, period average | 0.7788 LCU per US$, period average | 2.62 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.92 LCU per US$, period average | 2.59 LCU per US$, period average | 6.11 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.7 LCU per US$, period average | 6.36 LCU per US$, period average | 10.54 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.18 LCU per US$, period average | 7.26 LCU per US$, period average | 14.71 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.87 LCU per US$, period average | 14.78 LCU per US$, period average | 18.45 LCU per US$, period average | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 93 Czechia 23.22 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 94 Sao Tome and Principe 22.66 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 95 Sierra Leone 21.3 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 96 Lesotho 18.33 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 96 Namibia 18.33 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 99 Eswatini 18.32 LCU per US$, period average compare
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.8825 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.4964 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is official exchange rate in South Africa?
- Official exchange rate in South Africa was 18.33 LCU per US$, period average in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest official exchange rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.45 LCU per US$, period average in 2023.
- What is the lowest official exchange rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6795 LCU per US$, period average in 1974.
- How does South Africa rank for official exchange rate?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 209 countries with data for 2024.
- Is official exchange rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release