South Africa

South Africa is the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, and its unemployment rate of 32.4% is the figure that stands out. GDP reached US$427.2 billion in 2025, still below its 2011 peak of US$458.2 billion, holding 41st place between Hong Kong SAR, China and Pakistan. Real growth was 1.1%; the 6.5% US$ rise was mostly exchange-rate and price effects.

Services account for 63.1% of output, industry 24.1% and agriculture 2.8%, with manufacturing at 12.3%. Inflation was 3.2% and government gross debt 78.4% of GDP. GDP per capita of US$6,598 ranks 109th of 196. The country ranked 30th in 2000, and output has grown 2.8 times in US$ terms since; it is now about the size of the Phoenix, AZ metro area's 2024 GDP. The IMF projects GDP of US$577.3 billion by 2030, up 35%, which would keep it 41st.