South Africa

Quick Facts

🇿🇦
Capital:
Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town
Official Language(s):
Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Currency:
South African rand (R)
Population:
59,308,690

Overview

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini; and it encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres, the country has over 62 million people. Pretoria is the administrative capital, while Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is regarded as the judicial capital. The largest, most populous city is Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town and Durban.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $420,886,877,628.703B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 5.0%(2021). Developing economy with moderate income levels.

GDP Growth
5.0%(2021)
GDP PPP
$843,280,245,239.583

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 62.7%(2021) in services, 24.9%(2021) in industry, and 2.5%(2021) in agriculture. Balanced economic structure.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 34.0%(2021) unemployment and 4.6%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 31.1%(2021) exports and 24.9%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
34.0%(2021)
Inflation
4.6%(2021)
Exports/GDP
31.1%(2021)
Imports/GDP
24.9%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

5.5

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

0.7

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

74.2

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

168.9

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

12.1

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 56.03%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 6.17%(2021).

FDI Inflows
9.66%(2021)
FDI Outflows
0.02%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

41.12%(2021)

Foreign Reserves

$57.60B(2021)(5.6 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
7.88%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
5.55%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
12.06%(2021)
Services
62.73%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    59.4/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    25.1/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    36.2/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 61,502,603(2021) with 1.5%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 2.374 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    62.341 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    19.821 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (67.2%(2021)) with youth at 26.6%(2021) and elderly at 6.2%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 48.9%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    39.6%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    9.3%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 51.5%(2021) female and 48.5%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.04 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: 458,246(2021).

    Male Mortality
    399.441/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    294.817/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 2.3%(2021) annually, with 32.2%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: 90.0%(2021).

    Urbanization
    67.8%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    27.8 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 9.9%(2021) of territory, with 79.4%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 5,151.1 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    114.24(2021)
    Cereal Production
    19,865,089.53 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 89.3%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 495 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 14.025 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    0.8%(2021)

    Environmental Vulnerability

    728.4%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 0.8%(2021) providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    14.025 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( 97000000.00%(2021) of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    75,512 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 2,860,193(2021)Internally displaced: 2,639,389(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Borders 6 countries