South Africa is an upper-middle-income country with a population of 64M people. The capital is Cape Town, while the largest city is Johannesburg, with 4.8M residents. South Africa shares land borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.
South Africa ranks 40/197 by GDP ($401B) and 111/197 by GDP per capita ($6,267). The top export category is raw materials & minerals, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
65683993
|
24/197 |
| GDP |
$401B
2024 |
40/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$6,267
2024 |
111/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$15,456
2024 |
112/197 |
| Government debt |
$305B
2024 |
30/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
76%
2024 |
48/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$4,761
2024 |
83/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$15,431
2026 |
56/197 |
| Land area | 468,377 sq mi | 24/197 |
| Population density | 139.8 ppl/mi² | 135/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 | 89/196 |
| Median age | 29.5 years | 107/196 |
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 164/197 |
South Africa trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $401,144,998,374 |
| 2023 | $381,440,724,491 |
| 2022 | $407,596,043,068 |
| 2021 | $419,986,284,375 |
| 2020 | $337,974,655,408 |
| 2019 | $389,330,032,224 |
| 2018 | $405,260,723,893 |
| 2017 | $381,448,814,653 |
| 2016 | $323,585,509,674 |
| 2015 | $346,709,790,459 |
| 2014 | $381,198,869,776 |
| 2013 | $400,886,013,596 |
| 2012 | $434,400,545,086 |
| 2011 | $458,199,494,831 |
| 2010 | $417,363,822,802 |
| 2009 | $329,754,060,647 |
| 2008 | $316,131,258,616 |
| 2007 | $333,077,117,254 |
| 2006 | $303,858,675,364 |
| 2005 | $288,867,217,197 |
| 2004 | $255,806,908,595 |
| 2003 | $197,018,965,309 |
| 2002 | $129,087,556,612 |
| 2001 | $135,429,905,923 |
| 2000 | $151,752,757,215 |
| 1999 | $151,516,957,079 |
| 1998 | $152,982,984,557 |
| 1997 | $168,978,057,328 |
| 1996 | $163,234,925,381 |
| 1995 | $171,735,933,897 |
| 1994 | $153,512,712,382 |
| 1993 | $147,194,747,566 |
| 1992 | $146,956,150,987 |
| 1991 | $135,203,698,238 |
| 1990 | $126,048,140,142 |
| 1989 | $108,055,624,082 |
| 1988 | $103,976,831,871 |
| 1987 | $96,535,763,418 |
| 1986 | $73,354,771,399 |
| 1985 | $64,459,376,087 |
| 1984 | $84,870,163,366 |
| 1983 | $96,204,110,942 |
| 1982 | $85,904,057,409 |
| 1981 | $93,141,472,164 |
| 1980 | $89,411,864,402 |
| 1979 | $63,038,658,089 |
| 1978 | $51,607,412,902 |
| 1977 | $45,328,411,332 |
| 1976 | $41,150,460,288 |
| 1975 | $42,906,905,672 |
| 1974 | $41,389,186,095 |
| 1973 | $33,262,772,008 |
| 1972 | $24,515,919,217 |
| 1971 | $23,411,076,638 |
| 1970 | $21,218,391,513 |
| 1969 | $19,256,992,297 |
| 1968 | $17,124,793,150 |
| 1967 | $15,821,393,671 |
| 1966 | $14,211,394,315 |
| 1965 | $13,068,994,772 |
| 1964 | $11,955,995,218 |
| 1963 | $10,854,195,658 |
| 1962 | $9,813,996,074 |
| 1961 | $9,225,996,310 |
| 1960 | $8,748,596,501 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,267 |
| 2023 | $6,034 |
| 2022 | $6,534 |
| 2021 | $6,829 |
| 2020 | $5,581 |
| 2019 | $6,534 |
| 2018 | $6,914 |
| 2017 | $6,618 |
| 2016 | $5,651 |
| 2015 | $6,112 |
| 2014 | $6,857 |
| 2013 | $7,332 |
| 2012 | $8,077 |
| 2011 | $8,646 |
| 2010 | $7,973 |
| 2009 | $6,375 |
| 2008 | $6,185 |
| 2007 | $6,592 |
| 2006 | $6,077 |
| 2005 | $5,837 |
| 2004 | $5,221 |
| 2003 | $4,062 |
| 2002 | $2,688 |
| 2001 | $2,847 |
| 2000 | $3,218 |
| 1999 | $3,242 |
| 1998 | $3,310 |
| 1997 | $3,700 |
| 1996 | $3,618 |
| 1995 | $3,856 |
| 1994 | $3,489 |
| 1993 | $3,400 |
| 1992 | $3,462 |
| 1991 | $3,243 |
| 1990 | $3,093 |
| 1989 | $2,727 |
| 1988 | $2,702 |
| 1987 | $2,586 |
| 1986 | $2,027 |
| 1985 | $1,839 |
| 1984 | $2,504 |
| 1983 | $2,938 |
| 1982 | $2,717 |
| 1981 | $3,050 |
| 1980 | $3,029 |
| 1979 | $2,202 |
| 1978 | $1,852 |
| 1977 | $1,671 |
| 1976 | $1,559 |
| 1975 | $1,670 |
| 1974 | $1,656 |
| 1973 | $1,369 |
| 1972 | $1,038 |
| 1971 | $1,020 |
| 1970 | $952 |
| 1969 | $891 |
| 1968 | $817 |
| 1967 | $779 |
| 1966 | $722 |
| 1965 | $685 |
| 1964 | $646 |
| 1963 | $605 |
| 1962 | $563 |
| 1961 | $546 |
| 1960 | $532 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY
South Africa's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 66.7 |
| 2025 | 66.5 |
| 2024 | 66.3 |
| 2023 | 66.1 |
| 2022 | 65.5 |
| 2021 | 62 |
| 2020 | 65.2 |
| 2019 | 66.1 |
| 2018 | 65.7 |
| 2017 | 65.4 |
| 2016 | 64.7 |
| 2015 | 64.1 |
| 2014 | 63.2 |
| 2013 | 62.4 |
| 2012 | 61.7 |
| 2011 | 60.6 |
| 2010 | 58.9 |
| 2009 | 57.4 |
| 2008 | 56 |
| 2007 | 54.9 |
| 2006 | 54.2 |
| 2005 | 53.9 |
| 2004 | 54 |
| 2003 | 54.2 |
| 2002 | 55.6 |
| 2001 | 57.2 |
| 2000 | 58.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 |
| 1998 | 59.9 |
| 1997 | 60.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 |
| 1995 | 61.6 |
| 1994 | 62.1 |
| 1993 | 62.6 |
| 1992 | 62.8 |
| 1991 | 63 |
| 1990 | 62.9 |
| 1989 | 63 |
| 1988 | 62.9 |
| 1987 | 62.7 |
| 1986 | 62.4 |
| 1985 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 |
| 1983 | 61.4 |
| 1982 | 60.9 |
| 1981 | 60.4 |
| 1980 | 60 |
| 1979 | 59.5 |
| 1978 | 59 |
| 1977 | 58.5 |
| 1976 | 58 |
| 1975 | 57.6 |
| 1974 | 57.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 |
| 1971 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 |
| 1969 | 55.4 |
| 1968 | 55.2 |
| 1967 | 55 |
| 1966 | 54.7 |
| 1965 | 54.4 |
| 1964 | 54.2 |
| 1963 | 53.9 |
| 1962 | 53.6 |
| 1961 | 53.1 |
| 1960 | 52.6 |
| 1959 | 51.9 |
| 1958 | 51.1 |
| 1957 | 50.2 |
| 1956 | 49.2 |
| 1955 | 48.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 |
| 1953 | 46.1 |
| 1952 | 45 |
| 1951 | 44.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY
South Africa's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY
South Africa's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.22 |
| 2022 | 2.23 |
| 2021 | 2.25 |
| 2020 | 2.26 |
| 2019 | 2.26 |
| 2018 | 2.27 |
| 2017 | 2.28 |
| 2016 | 2.26 |
| 2015 | 2.36 |
| 2014 | 2.42 |
| 2013 | 2.43 |
| 2012 | 2.45 |
| 2011 | 2.44 |
| 2010 | 2.44 |
| 2009 | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 2.68 |
| 2007 | 2.55 |
| 2006 | 2.55 |
| 2005 | 2.51 |
| 2004 | 2.44 |
| 2003 | 2.36 |
| 2002 | 2.32 |
| 2001 | 2.37 |
| 2000 | 2.41 |
| 1999 | 2.56 |
| 1998 | 2.63 |
| 1997 | 2.73 |
| 1996 | 2.99 |
| 1995 | 3.17 |
| 1994 | 3.26 |
| 1993 | 3.37 |
| 1992 | 3.48 |
| 1991 | 3.62 |
| 1990 | 3.72 |
| 1989 | 3.98 |
| 1988 | 4.18 |
| 1987 | 4.35 |
| 1986 | 4.41 |
| 1985 | 4.5 |
| 1984 | 4.57 |
| 1983 | 4.63 |
| 1982 | 4.7 |
| 1981 | 4.71 |
| 1980 | 4.78 |
| 1979 | 4.82 |
| 1978 | 4.85 |
| 1977 | 4.94 |
| 1976 | 5.07 |
| 1975 | 5.19 |
| 1974 | 5.3 |
| 1973 | 5.41 |
| 1972 | 5.49 |
| 1971 | 5.57 |
| 1970 | 5.63 |
| 1969 | 5.72 |
| 1968 | 5.78 |
| 1967 | 5.85 |
| 1966 | 5.91 |
| 1965 | 5.89 |
| 1964 | 5.96 |
| 1963 | 6.01 |
| 1962 | 6.05 |
| 1961 | 6.08 |
| 1960 | 6.11 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 29.5 |
| 2023 | 29.2 |
| 2022 | 28.9 |
| 2021 | 28.6 |
| 2020 | 28.3 |
| 2019 | 27.9 |
| 2018 | 27.5 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2016 | 26.7 |
| 2015 | 26.4 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2013 | 25.7 |
| 2012 | 25.3 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2010 | 24.6 |
| 2009 | 24.3 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2007 | 23.8 |
| 2006 | 23.5 |
| 2005 | 23.3 |
| 2004 | 23.1 |
| 2003 | 22.8 |
| 2002 | 22.4 |
| 2001 | 22.2 |
| 2000 | 21.9 |
| 1999 | 21.6 |
| 1998 | 21.4 |
| 1997 | 21.2 |
| 1996 | 21.2 |
| 1995 | 21.5 |
| 1994 | 22 |
| 1993 | 21.9 |
| 1992 | 21.5 |
| 1991 | 21.5 |
| 1990 | 21.3 |
| 1989 | 21.1 |
| 1988 | 20.9 |
| 1987 | 20.7 |
| 1986 | 20.5 |
| 1985 | 20.4 |
| 1984 | 20.2 |
| 1983 | 20 |
| 1982 | 19.8 |
| 1981 | 19.6 |
| 1980 | 19.4 |
| 1979 | 19.3 |
| 1978 | 19.2 |
| 1977 | 19.1 |
| 1976 | 19 |
| 1975 | 18.9 |
| 1974 | 18.9 |
| 1973 | 18.8 |
| 1972 | 18.8 |
| 1971 | 18.8 |
| 1970 | 18.8 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 18.8 |
| 1967 | 18.8 |
| 1966 | 18.8 |
| 1965 | 18.8 |
| 1964 | 18.9 |
| 1963 | 18.9 |
| 1962 | 18.9 |
| 1961 | 19 |
| 1960 | 19 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa | CC BY
South Africa vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing South Africa with other countries.
South Africa: National Statistics
Finance
|
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$391B
2024 |
41/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
33%
2024 |
82/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.02%
2024 |
24/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.7%
2024 |
143/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
89,000
2020 |
54/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-5.79%
2024 |
151/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
32.3%
2024 |
3/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
63%
2024 |
58/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
24.3%
2024 |
94/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
58.6
2026 |
110/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
50.5%
2014 |
1/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
0.9%
2014 |
169/169 |
| Number of millionaires |
90,595
2025 |
30/35 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
0.22%
2025 |
31/35 |
| Number of billionaires |
7
2025 |
38/78 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.00002%
2025 |
62/78 |
| Listed domestic companies |
220
2024 |
31/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$986B
2024 |
15/100 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$65.4B
2024 |
36/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$855M
2024 |
98/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
3,886,600
2020 |
43/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
2.89%
2020 |
120/184 |
| Banked people share |
81.1%
2024 |
61/158 |
Energy
|
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
1,939 kg
2023 |
60/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$7.84
2023 |
151/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
440 megatons
2024 |
15/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
6.88 tons
2024 |
34/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
93.3%
2022 |
22/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
9.7%
2021 |
145/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
3.58%
2023 |
91/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
-12.5%
2023 |
106/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
3,247 kWh
2023 |
63/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.45%
2021 |
151/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
2.91%
2023 |
124/192 |
| Nuclear share |
3.73%
2023 |
26/192 |
| Electricity access |
87.7%
2023 |
144/195 |
Society
|
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.79%
2024 |
24/197 |
| Annual migration change |
+146,370
2025 |
9/196 |
| Urban population |
63.7%
2024 |
97/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.7:51.3
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.56 ft
2025 |
140/190 |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2025 |
134/190 |
| Quality of life index |
42.1
2026 |
124/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
41
2025 |
95/197 |
| Higher education index |
81
2026 |
37/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
45.5
2022 |
3/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
22.2
2019 |
59/197 |
| Visa free countries |
109
2025 |
94/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
91.2%
2024 |
122/196 |
| English speaking |
31%
2023 |
84/197 |
| People using the Internet |
75.7%
2023 |
111/195 |
Health
|
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$537
2023 |
85/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$35.9
2023 |
140/192 |
| Life expectancy |
66.7 years
2026 |
164/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
2.06%
2023 |
88/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.79
2022 |
122/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
118
2023 |
60/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
34.7
2023 |
55/192 |
| Obesity rate |
31.4%
2022 |
45/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
7.2%
2024 |
129/195 |
| Air quality index |
39
2026 |
122/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
20.7%
2022 |
73/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.13 liters
2020 |
59/186 |
Territory
|
South Africa
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.81%
2026 |
24/197 |
| Land area per capita |
7,318 sq mi
2024 |
62/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
371,975 sq mi
2026 |
13/194 |
| Forest area |
65,409 sq mi
2026 |
39/196 |
| Roads length |
466,028 mi
2016 |
12/176 |
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2021–2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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