South Africa — GDP per capita (PPP)
GDP per Capita (PPP) for South Africa, 1990–2025.
GDP per capita (PPP) for South Africa was 15,906 in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 6,275 in 1992 (about 2.5× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.64% per year.
South Africa ranks 121 of 201 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 60%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 4,379, so South Africa sits above it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 19%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 6 of 47 economies; Eswatini (12,529) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 8% in 2021. That is 13% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1990 level: doubled by 2011. Doubling roughly every 27 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 77th of 186 in 1990 → 78th of 194 in 2000 → 96th of 200 in 2010 → 113th of 198 in 2020 → 109th of 185 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15,905.68 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 15,478.65 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 15,212.26 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 14,746.71 | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 13,681.95 | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 12,671.09 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 13,361.49 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 13,347.36 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 13,738.44 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 13,519.32 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 13,397.52 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 13,358.94 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 13,369.44 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 12,986.8 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 13,143.19 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 12,637.29 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 12,261.41 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 12,525.26 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 12,046.61 | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 11,250.18 | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 10,440.63 | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 9,713.65 | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 9,138.83 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 8,792.36 | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 8,428.32 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 8,095.29 | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 7,666.72 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 7,463.44 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 7,433.36 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 7,208.01 | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 6,875.19 | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 6,611.29 | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 6,374.78 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 6,275.01 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 6,382.81 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 6,381.67 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was South Africa’s GDP per capita (PPP) in 1991?
6,382.81 (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are South Africa’s GDP per capita (PPP) figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — current international $ — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is South Africa’s GDP per capita (PPP) growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +149.2% in total — about 2.6% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 15,905.68; 2024: 15,478.65; 2023: 15,212.26; 2022: 14,746.71; 2021: 13,681.95. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD — GDP per Capita (PPP). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.