South Africa's flag    South Africa


Official language: English
Currency: South African Rand
Capital City: Pretoria
Area: 1221037km2
Subregional membership(s): Southern Africa, Southern African Development Community (SADC), B5, Sub-Saharan Africa, Non-Oil Producing, Mineral-rich countries


61020221.0K
2024

Mid-year population
419.0B
2021

GDP at current prices, USD
34.5
2022

Under five mortality rate
98.1
2021

Primary enrolment ratio
Population and migration
United Nations Population Division, United Nations Population Fund
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Average annual population growth rate - Total (%)1.50-0.391.171.281.301.140.860.820.911.09
Population - Urban (%)64.8065.3065.80
Life expectancy at birth - Male (years)60.761.362.062.262.862.259.558.659.963.5
Total fertility rate (per woman)2.42.32.32.42.52.42.42.32.32.3
Population - Urban (number)35,844,34936,600,98237,348,15438,086,76938,820,23939,550,88940,277,81440,998,41441,711,72742,416,701
Median age (years)25.325.726.026.326.626.927.227.427.627.8
Population - Male (number)27,155,41727,418,16527,465,27027,822,34928,207,94928,580,78428,894,60929,168,00629,451,97629,772,895
Population - Urban (%)64.8365.3465.8566.3666.8667.3567.8568.3368.8225.01
Population - Total (number)55,876,50456,422,27456,641,21057,339,63558,087,05558,801,92759,392,25559,893,88660,414,49561,020,221
Life expectancy at birth - Total (years)64.064.865.465.766.265.362.361.562.966.9
Life expectancy at birth - Female (years)66.867.868.468.769.168.065.064.265.769.9
Population - Female (%)51.4051.4151.5151.4851.4451.3951.3551.3051.25
Average annual population growth rate - Urban (%)2.092.021.961.911.861.821.771.721.681.63
Population - Female (number)28,721,08729,004,10929,175,94029,517,28729,879,10730,221,14330,497,64730,725,88030,962,51931,247,327
Population - Male (%)49.3649.3549.3349.3149.2849.26
Health
World Bank, World Health Organization, United Nations Statistics Division, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
35.034.433.833.332.932.532.031.8
Percentage of mothers provided at least one antenatal care - Total (%)
40.539.839.238.738.137.937.337.2
Proportion of the population using improved sanitation facilities - Total (%)66.00
40.039.238.437.636.936.235.3
Prevalence of underweight children under-five years of age - Total (%)
Prevalence of underweight children under-five years of age - Total (%)5.705.904.90
Percentage of mothers provided at least one antenatal care - Total (%)93.70
Proportion of 1 year-old children immunised against measles (%)
Proportion of the population using improved sanitation facilities - Total (%)66.5667.3168.0668.8069.5470.2770.9971.71
34.633.833.132.431.731.130.3
37.837.236.636.135.635.334.734.5
Proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption (%)5.00
Percentage of mothers provided at least one antenatal care - Total (%)93.70
Proportion of 1 year-old children immunised against measles (%)86.0085.0070.0070.00
37.336.635.835.134.333.732.8
Education
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Statistics Division, International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Gross enrolment ratio in primary - Male (%)109.17104.84105.86103.21102.32101.0799.26
Gross enrolment ratio in secondary - Male (%)110.13102.34106.14103.84106.78104.28106.17
Literacy rates of 15-24 years old - Female (%)99.2396.8898.8397.48
Mean years of schooling - Male (years)10.410.312.210.711.7
Net enrolment rate in secondary education - Female (%)89.8778.52
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary education - Total (rate)30.3
Primary school enrollment - Male (number)3,942,4433,882,7553,893,1933,897,0563,952,1183,977,9573,963,021
Ratio of school attendance rate of orphans to school attendance rate of non orphans (%)
School life Expectancy in Tertiary - Female (years)1.31.41.51.51.61.6
Mean years of schooling - Total (years)10.110.111.410.611.6
Net enrolment rate in primary education - Female (%)84.6286.7089.8390.19
Net enrolment rate in primary education - Male (%)84.0287.3288.1788.26
Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education (ratio)1.01.11.11.11.1
School life Expectancy in Secondary - Male (years)5.24.85.15.15.35.25.5
School life Expectancy in Tertiary - Male (years)0.91.01.01.01.01.0
Ratio of girls to boys in tertiary education (ratio)1.31.31.31.31.31.41.4
School life Expectancy in Secondary - Female (years)5.15.35.75.55.75.76.0
Survival Rate to the last grade in Primary - Male (%)70.6287.3293.9795.8493.81
Adult literacy rate - Total (%)94.3787.0595.0290.00
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Male (%)17.05
Primary completion rate - Female (%)96.7096.4697.1097.3097.5097.7798.04
School life Expectancy in Primary - Female (years)6.97.07.37.17.06.96.9
Mean years of schooling - Female (years)9.910.09.710.511.5
Mean years of schooling - Total (years)
Ratio of girls to boys in primary education (ratio)0.91.01.01.01.0
School life Expectancy in Primary - Total (years)7.27.27.47.27.27.07.0
School life Expectancy in Secondary - Total (years)5.15.05.45.35.55.55.7
Adult literacy rate - Female (%)93.4186.4694.5389.37
Gross enrolment ratio in secondary - Total (%)109.44107.18111.63108.52111.21110.02111.80
Pupil-teacher ratio, tertiary education - Total (rate)
Survival Rate to the last grade in Primary - Total (%)79.7089.7096.6095.5795.47
Primary completion rate - Total (%)95.8094.6896.4096.6096.8096.6297.96
Gross enrolment ratio in primary - Total (%)105.57103.18104.85101.95101.2699.7498.12
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Male (%)15.5415.6117.5818.9419.2219.4919.25
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Total (%)20.48
School life Expectancy in Tertiary - Total (years)1.11.21.31.31.31.3
Primary completion rate - Male (%)97.6098.2798.0098.1098.3098.9498.13
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Female (%)22.2722.4725.3527.9428.9330.9131.41
Literacy rates of 15-24 years old - Male (%)98.6893.7697.9995.91
Gross enrolment ratio in primary - Female (%)101.90101.49103.82100.64100.1598.3596.93
Gross enrolment ratio in secondary - Female (%)108.75112.09117.30113.36115.79115.95117.64
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Female (%)23.96
Women to men parity index, as ratio of literacy rates, 15-24 years old (%)1.010.831.031.011.02
Literacy rates of 15-24 years old - Total (%)98.9695.3298.4196.70
Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education (ratio)1.01.11.11.11.11.1
Survival Rate to the last grade in Primary - Female (%)90.2592.2199.3495.2897.23
Net enrolment rate in secondary education - Male (%)91.2065.42
Ratio of girls to boys in primary education (ratio)0.91.01.01.01.01.0
School life Expectancy in Primary - Male (years)7.47.37.57.37.37.27.1
Adult literacy rate - Male (%)95.4087.6895.5590.68
Gross enrolment ratio in teritiary - Total (%)18.8618.9621.4223.3924.0225.1325.24
Net enrolment rate in primary education - Total (%)84.3587.0188.9989.21
Net enrolment rate in secondary education - Total (%)90.5471.93
Primary school enrollment - Total (number)7,555,8427,569,9247,582,1547,568,3877,688,3817,716,0397,698,124
Primary school enrollment - Female (number)3,613,3993,687,1693,688,9613,671,3313,736,2633,738,0823,735,103
Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary education - Total (rate)27.826.927.6
National accounts
United Nations Statistics Division, Economic Commission for Africa, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Construction (ISIC F) (US dollars)12,056,726,93810,906,030,35911,979,364,38512,339,416,27411,467,147,1518,361,561,4819,634,679,0688,963,141,042
Expenditure on GDP at current purchaser's values - current prices - National Currency (billions)4,0514,3504,652
Industry (%)27.23
Changes in inventories (US dollars)2,162,951,344-1556526556.36807,134,2051,006,199,3461,369,677,521-4298653888.11-582816779.174,734,984,710
Exports of goods and services (US dollars)96,023,911,94391,103,998,910104,125,073,429111,375,905,382105,906,058,77593,122,658,777130,704,194,476135,921,540,342
Industry (%)29.0829.4029.3229.0329.1828.29
Services (%)68.5968.1168.0568.5368.7069.01
Final consumption expenditure (US dollars)286,426,897,161267,230,109,133313,231,452,636337,488,702,024325,763,899,459281,101,895,681341,012,314,013334,968,687,815
Manufacturing (ISIC D) (US dollars)43,372,940,77740,393,037,36747,654,815,78750,456,831,13948,280,393,78039,768,236,53150,087,875,62349,714,379,454
Mining, Manufacturing, Utilities (ISIC C-E) (US dollars)70,172,427,42866,046,571,83177,941,780,98582,996,726,54880,500,452,22070,631,675,62793,786,889,35291,046,098,123
Services (%)70.03
Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing (ISIC A-B) (US dollars)7,740,425,1687,811,525,6689,497,668,1319,156,911,4947,593,185,9158,736,104,95110,743,668,18211,470,279,743
Transport, storage and communication (ISIC I) (US dollars)28,241,049,11625,559,202,48229,832,460,83230,663,674,20728,898,807,65922,703,934,62727,257,204,39727,598,342,895
Expenditure on GDP at current purchaser's values - current prices - US dollars (billions)317.5295.7348.9
Final consumption expenditure (US dollars)286,426,897,161289,260,004,400292,881,564,181300,754,681,918304,987,996,186291,148,670,611304,425,115,357310,890,450,321
GDP, PPP - Current, International dollar (millions)758,901772,769790,171821,082836,716792,333865,820
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (US dollars)346,486,125,394348,788,706,937352,827,495,135358,320,256,585359,251,658,412337,828,195,243353,716,464,935360,473,886,103
Wholesale, retail trade, restaurants and hotels (ISIC G-H) (US dollars)43,540,973,78940,414,777,38847,382,562,91450,601,252,07648,523,248,11439,993,579,51051,158,885,12049,369,849,891
Gross fixed capital formation (including Acquisitions less disposals of valuables) (US dollars)62,398,524,46156,435,067,14662,455,086,34564,492,250,90360,225,422,20146,712,075,53255,387,131,19557,590,634,269
Prices
Economic Commission for Africa, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Inflation, average, percentage change over previous period4.516.595.184.504.123.25-40.566.86
inflation rate: end of period price indices percentage change over previous year5.187.074.504.404.033.08-39.807.20
Inflation rate (percentage change of CPI over same period of previous year)4.516.595.184.504.123.25-40.566.86
Inflation, end of period consumer prices (index)94.09100.41105.64
Consumer price index, All item, 2010=100130.27138.86146.05152.63158.93164.0997.54104.23
Inflation, end of period consumer prices (%)5.286.725.204.624.133.274.28
Energy
African Union Commission, AfDB, AUC and ECA Joint African Statistical Yearbook, United Nations Statistics Division, U.S. Energy Information Administration
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Total electricity production (Giga watt hours)249,656255,512255,512
Coal - Production, Tonnes (thousands)263,438269,948
Conventional crude oil - Production, metric tons (thousands)0.30.00.00.00.0
Electricity - Consumption (Giga watt hours)
Conventional crude oil - Import, metric tons (thousands)59.861.750.167.660.2
Other hydrocarbons - Transfers and recycled products (terajoules)191,592153,144161,280174,060174,253
Conventional crude oil - Transfers and recycled products (terajoules)
Electricity - total biofuels and waste production (Giga watt hours)259260332
Electricity - total fossil fules production (Giga watt hours)228,566226,667231,630236,718241,918
Conventional crude oil - Import (terajoules)2,512,7762,592,5342,105,4182,838,9902,527,224
Conventional crude oil - Transformation, metric tons (thousands)19.920.417.121.622.1
Electricity - total nuclear production (Giga watt hours)14,34714,246
Other hydrocarbons - Total energy supply (terajoules)191,592153,144161,280174,060174,253
Other hydrocarbons - Transformation (terajoules)
Other hydrocarbons - Transformation, metric tons (thousands)
Refinery feedstocks - Transformation, metric tons (thousands)0.50.50.8
Conventional crude oil - Export (terajoules)18,984
Electricity - total biofuels and waste production (Giga watt hours)332341351
Electricity - total Solar wind tide wave production (Giga watt hours)17,36922,08622,44522,74523,075
Total electricity production (Giga watt hours)
Conventional crude oil - Transformation (terajoules)837,228856,548719,670908,922927,276
Electricity - Consumption (Giga watt hours)214,386236,469267,488
Electricity - total thermal production (Giga watt hours)227,635228,082
Electricity - total fossil fules production (Giga watt hours)
Electricity - total Solar wind tide wave production (Giga watt hours)157.24162.48
Total electricity installed capacity - kilowatt hours (thousands)47.149.953.053.5
Electricity - Consumption (Giga watt hours)196,565200,416204,380
Conventional crude oil - Production (terajoules)11,2561,1761,3441,092546
Refinery feedstocks - Import (terajoules)21,50034,400
Refinery feedstocks - Total energy supply (terajoules)21,50034,400
Total electricity production (Giga watt hours)249,655252,747258,259263,845269,581
Conventional crude oil - Total energy supply (terajoules)837,270856,548719,670983,892856,842
Oil - Consumption (metric tons)25,49725,92926,386
Refinery feedstocks - Import, metric tons (thousands)0.50.8
Electricity - total hydro production (Giga watt hours)3,7203,9944,1844,3824,589
Total electricity installed capacity - kilowatt hours (thousands)47,43950,021
Coal - Production, Tonnes (thousands)24,50822,284257.1263.4
Conventional crude oil - Change in stocks (terajoules)35,95255,650
Electricity - total hydro production (Giga watt hours)3,7203,9944,184
Coal - Consumption, Tonnes (thousands)22,20622,74123,295
Electricity - total fossil fules production (Giga watt hours)228,566226,667231,630
Electricity - total hydro production (Giga watt hours)
Refinery feedstocks - Transformation (terajoules)21,50021,50034,400
Coal - Consumption, Tonnes (thousands)24.524.725.322.3
Conventional crude oil - Export, metric tons (thousands)0.5
Oil - Consumption (metric tons)25,722,00026,161,00026,620,000
Tourism
World Bank, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), World Tourism Organization
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
International tourism, number of arrivals - Total (thousands)
Total contribution to employment, tourism (%)9.909.50
Total contribution to GDP, tourism (%)9.398.90
International tourism receipts (% of total exports)9.459.81
International tourism receipts - current USD (millions)9,1408,8079,7069,7899,0642,716
International tourism expenditures - current USD (millions)5,7355,354
Rooms in hotels and similar establishments (thousands)81.982.482.783.0
Transport

Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Paved Road (% of total) (%)
Total length of railways (kilometre)20,95320,95320,953
Information society
United Nations Statistics Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
98.4453.7159.6279.5678.14
8.86
Fixed telephone lines (per 100 inhabitants) (%)7.468.058.445.793.46
98.0098.0098.6199.5199.6699.8099.88
10.36
1,079,088847,293694,624650,947596,266443,637221,881
51.9254.0056.1762.4068.2070.00
18.64
7.68
0.170.080.150.090.110.010.01
Mobile telephone subscribers (per 100 inhabitants) (%)157.49146.06156.24161.19166.94163.19168.92
65.6255.0161.0480.7179.65
237,935258,312344,358407,071591,572851,2241,467,622
Mobile telephone subscribers (per 100 inhabitants) (%)158.88146.62155.23159.93165.60
54.0073.0077.6290.3294.4196.4597.94
14.79
51.9254.0056.1762.4068.2070.00
72.31
132.8252.3558.1378.3476.55
5.04
Mobile telephone subscribers (number)87,999,49282,412,88088,497,61092,427,95896,972,459
11.10
11.71
3.25
2.522.041.981.932.152.222.85
1.931.51.231.141.030.750.37
Fixed telephone lines (per 100 inhabitants) (%)7.398.028.495.833.493.572.48
1,409,3471,150,7701,123,1891,107,0131,250,3561,303,0571,694,648
99.9099.6099.9799.9799.9799.9999.97
92,32445,16584,20748,99562,5188,1965,145
0.430.460.610.711.021.452.47
, 2018=10012,235,550141,115,7409,085,3906,286,33016,307,8009,922,05028,087,130
International trade
International Road Federation, World Bank
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Total trade - Import, current USD (millions)100,59189,65099,924109,384103,99878,322104,833
Total trade - Export, current USD (millions)96,08691,109104,288111,285106,07093,179130,636
Banking, insurance, financial statistics
International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Statistics Division
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Interest rate - Lending (%)9.42
Exchange rate, period average (national currency per USD)12.7614.7113.3213.2314.45
Interest rate - Central bank (%)6.25
Exchange rate, period average (national currency per USD)12.76
Deposit rate (%) (%)6.15
Government finance fiscal and public sector statistics
World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Debt service ratio - Per export (ratio)26.014.813.524.318.727.318.7
Fiscal deficit (% of GDP)-193.4-177.3-203.9-200.8-267.6-609.2-564.1-466.4
Net ODA - current USD (millions)1,4201,1801,014
Total external debt - as % of GDP (%)45.2047.1348.5951.5956.3069.4369.1384.35
General government net lending/borrowing - as % of GDP (%)-4.37-3.73-4.02-3.74-4.72-9.73-6.41
International reserves - current USD (millions)45,88747,18051,64255,05655,00857,597
Net ODA - Per capita (current USD)25.6921.0717.88
Total external debt (% of GNI) (%)37.7145.6947.1945.7850.4353.1841.27
Net ODA (% of GNI) (%)
Balance of payments
International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Economic Commission for Africa
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Current Account, Goods and Services, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-57443.7521,46258,10627,27328,478243,201381,096133,642
Financial account, Reserve assets, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-1401539,52225,52511,33725,370-5412067,27268,201
Outward flows of Foreign Direct investment - Stock, current USD (millions)154,683172,827
Current Account, Primary income, Investment income, Portfolio investment, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-50195-61658-91583-93822-98624-92116-93451-112360
Errors and omissions - current USD (millions)2,700
Current Account, Primary income, Compensation of employees, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-2004-2049-2135-2260-2350-1799-2067-2270
Current Account, Primary income, Investment income, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-99277-119908-138660-147521-138062-90965-116587-136113
Capital Account, Total, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)243241246236244234225-28936
Current account balance - as % of GDP (%)-4.34-2.68-2.37-2.96-2.581.993.67
Compensation of employees - current USD (millions)825.3755.4873.2928.5
Current Account, Secondary income, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-33108-26859-37547-34584-34570-42196-35764-25260
Financial account, Reserve assets, Monetary gold, Gold bullion, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-203,26920-10-1
Trade balance - as % of GDP (%)
Trade balance - current USD (millions)-3,639.62,2184,8561,689
Financial Account net - current USD (millions)-0.20.0246.70.2
Financial account, Reserve assets, Monetary gold, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-203,26920-10-1
Current Account, Goods and Services, Services, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-2229-4237-860881-8167-44797-65984-90607
Services Balance - current USD (millions)-481.1-577.6-403.6-533.1
Inward flows of Foreign Direct investment - Flow, current USD (millions)1,7292,2352,0085,4505,1253,06240,889
Current account balance - current USD (millions)-14,567.8-8,353.4-8,908.1-13,381.0
Capital Account net - current USD (billions)0.00.00.00.0
Capital Account, Capital transfers - Net (National Currency)243241246236244234225-28936
Net errors and omissions, Domestic Currency - Net (National Currency)-17754.25-4318.7310,02911,44741,52720,55324,637-8027.93
Primary income (Net) - current USD (millions)-7,801.3-8,137.1-10,488.5-11,799.9
Total, Domestic Currency - Net (National Currency)637,028156,448425,332648,498436,4321,650,2691,626,9851,302,821
Current Account, Primary income, Investment income, Direct investment, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-49082-58250-47077-53699-394381,151-23136-23753
Outward flows of Foreign Direct investment - Flow, current USD (millions)5,7444,4747,3714,0763,147-1,950.819.4
Current Account, Goods and Services,Goods , Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-55214.7525,69958,96626,39236,645287,998447,080224,249
Current Account, Secondary income, General government, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-46290-39641-50405-48970-48814-58557-48673-43499
Current Account, Total, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-191832.75-127354.27-120236.35-157091.61-146503.69108,241226,678-30001.07
Portfolio Investment (Net) - current USD (millions)-4,867.4
Trade balance - as % of GDP (%)
Current Account, Goods and Services, Goods , General merchandise on a balance of payments basis, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-114735.51-41063.57-7445.5-45285.99-30563.77179,697339,076138,076
Financial account, Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (balance from financial account), National Currency - Net (National Currency)-209344-131432-109961-145409-104733129,028251,540-66965
Inward flows of Foreign Direct investment - Stock, current USD (millions)126,755136,837
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (balance from current and capital account), Domestic Currency - Net (National Currency)-191589.75-127113.27-119990.35-156855.61-146259.69108,475226,903-58937.07
Secondary income (Net) - current USD (millions)-2,645.9-1,856.6-2,872.3-2,736.9
Current Account, Primary income, Net, National Currency - Net (National Currency)-101281-121957-140795-149781-140412-92764-118654-138383
Environment
United Nations Statistics Division, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Indicator2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Carbon Dioxide Emission - metric tons (thousands)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions - per Capita (metric tons)8.388.48
Energy use (Kg oil equivalent) per $1,000 (PPP) GDP (per 1,000 population)
Carbon Dioxide Emission - metric tons (thousands)424.8425.1435.6434.4439.6
CO2 emissions per capita (metric tons)7.407.40
Forest Area as % of Land Area (%)7.60
CO2 emissions per capita (metric tons)
Consumption of ozone-depleting CFCs in ODP (metric tons)
Forest Area as % of Land Area (%)14.2114.1814.1514.1214.0914.06
Energy use (Kg oil equivalent) per $1,000 (PPP) GDP (per 1,000 population)
Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected (%)12.9910.2610.2611.8112.4412.4912.74
Land area covered by forest (%)
Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected (%)12.9910.26