South Africa — GDP per capita
GDP per Capita (Nominal) for South Africa, 1960–2025.
GDP per capita for South Africa was 6,598 in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 8,646 in 2011. The lowest was 532 in 1960 (about 12.4× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 3.95% per year.
South Africa ranks 125 of 212 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 59%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 1,319, so South Africa sits above it. It peaked in 2011 and has fallen 24% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 8%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 6 of 47 economies; Cabo Verde (5,796) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 51% in 2003. That is 4% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1973; grown tenfold by 2005. Doubling roughly every 18 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 28th of 111 in 1960 → 46th of 146 in 1970 → 55th of 163 in 1980 → 69th of 192 in 1990 → 89th of 204 in 2000 → 93rd of 212 in 2010 → 112th of 210 in 2020 → 104th of 186 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,597.71 | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 6,267.19 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 6,034.27 | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 6,534.25 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 6,828.76 | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 5,580.6 | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 6,533.71 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 6,914.18 | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 6,618.34 | +17.1% |
| 2016 | 5,651.21 | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 6,112.27 | -10.9% |
| 2014 | 6,856.73 | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 7,331.65 | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 8,076.98 | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 8,646.06 | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 7,973.47 | +25.1% |
| 2009 | 6,374.71 | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 6,184.75 | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 6,591.86 | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 6,077.38 | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 5,836.88 | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 5,221.46 | +28.5% |
| 2003 | 4,062.22 | +51.1% |
| 2002 | 2,688.24 | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 2,847.15 | -11.5% |
| 2000 | 3,217.85 | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 3,242.37 | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 3,309.61 | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 3,700.24 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 3,617.55 | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 3,855.63 | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 3,488.6 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 3,399.64 | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 3,462.39 | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 3,243.24 | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 3,093.49 | +13.5% |
| 1989 | 2,726.71 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 2,702.06 | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 2,586.27 | +27.6% |
| 1986 | 2,027.47 | +10.2% |
| 1985 | 1,839.48 | -26.5% |
| 1984 | 2,504.08 | -14.8% |
| 1983 | 2,938.49 | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 2,717.16 | -10.9% |
| 1981 | 3,049.71 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 3,028.97 | +37.6% |
| 1979 | 2,201.52 | +18.9% |
| 1978 | 1,851.75 | +10.8% |
| 1977 | 1,671.47 | +7.2% |
| 1976 | 1,559 | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 1,670.12 | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 1,656.29 | +21.0% |
| 1973 | 1,369.16 | +31.9% |
| 1972 | 1,038.39 | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 1,020.44 | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 952.35 | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 890.92 | +9.0% |
| 1968 | 817.13 | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 778.84 | +7.9% |
| 1966 | 721.75 | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 684.62 | +6.0% |
| 1964 | 645.87 | +6.8% |
| 1963 | 604.54 | +7.3% |
| 1962 | 563.42 | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 545.66 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 532.15 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was South Africa’s GDP per capita in 1961?
545.66 (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are South Africa’s GDP per capita figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — current US$ — 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 growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +1139.8% in total — about 3.9% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.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: 6,597.71; 2024: 6,267.19; 2023: 6,034.27; 2022: 6,534.25; 2021: 6,828.76. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.PCAP.CD — GDP per Capita (Nominal). 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.