South Africa GDP Growth Rate1993-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar

South Africa's economy grew by an annualized 4.6% in the first quarter of 2021, following a downwardly revised 5.8% advance in the October-December period and easily beating market expectations of a 2.5% rise. Eight out of ten industries reported positive growth rates in the first quarter, with mining (18.1%), boosted by the production of platinum group metals, iron ore, gold and chromium; finance (7.4%) and trade (6.2%) making the most significant contributions. Manufacturing also increased 1.6%. Meanwhile, contractions were seen in agriculture (-3.2%), dragged lower by weaker production figures for field crops and animal products; and utilities (-2.6%), due to load shedding and a decline in the supply of water. On the expenditure side, household spending and changes in inventories helped spur growth. Year-on-year, the economy shrank 3.2%, after an upwardly revised 4.2% contraction in the previous period and matching market consensus.

South Africa's economy grew by an annualized 6.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020, following an upwardly revised 67.3% advance in the July-September period and easily beating market expectations of a 5% rise, largely due to the further easing of lockdown restrictions. Eight out of ten industries reported positive growth rates in the fourth quarter, primarily manufacturing (21.1%), trade (9.8%), transport (6.7%), construction (11.2%) and agriculture (5.9%). Expenditure on real gross domestic product increased at an annualised rate of 6,5%, driven by household consumption, exports and fixed investment. Year-on-year, the economy shrank 4.1%, after an upwardly revised 6.2% contraction in the previous period and compared with market expectations of a 4.6% slump. Considering the full year of 2020, the GDP shrank 7%, the most since 1946, as the devastating impact of COVID-19 in the second quarter when lockdown restrictions were at their most stringent weighed heavily on the economy.

South Africa's economy grew by an annualized 66.1 percent in the third quarter of 2020, recovering from a record 51.7 percent slump in the April-June period and easily beating market expectations of 52.6 percent. That was the strongest pace of expansion since at least 1993, with manufacturing, trade and mining being the biggest drivers of growth following the easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Despite the rebound, the economy is still 5.8 percent smaller than it was at the end of 2019. Manufacturing advanced at an annualized rate of 210.2 percent, mostly driven by increases in the production of basic metal products, petroleum, vehicles, and food and beverages; the trade, catering and accommodation industry increased at a rate of 137 percent; and mining and quarrying expanded at a rate of 288.3 percent. Expenditure on GDP increased at an annualized rate of 67.6 percent in the third quarter, as household consumption, exports and fixed investment recovered.

The South Africa GDP shrank an annualized 51% on quarter in the three months to June of 2020, after a downwardly revised 1.8% contraction in the prior period and more than an estimated 47.3% decline. It was the steepest economic contraction since at least 1990, as the Covid-19 pandemic blow extended the recession into a fourth quarter, the longest period of consecutive quarterly contractions since 1992. Steep output declines were seen across almost all of the country's sectors, in particular construction (-76.6% vs -4.7% in Q1); manufacturing (-74.9% vs -8.5%); mining (-73.1% vs -21.5%); transport, storage & communication (-67.9% vs 0.5%) and trade, catering & accommodation (-67.6% vs -0.7%). The only exception was agriculture, forestry and fishing (15.1% vs 26.8%), amid higher production of field crops and horticultural products. Year-on-year, the economy shrank 17.1%, following a revised 0.1% growth in the previous period and compared with market expectations of a 16.5% slump.