South Africa's economy advanced by 1.9% year-on-year in Q1 2026, accelerating from a 0.8% advance in Q4 and slightly above estimates of a 1.8% growth. GDP Annual Growth Rate in South Africa averaged 2.29 percent from 1994 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 19.20 percent in the second quarter of 2021 and a record low of -16.40 percent in the second quarter of 2020. source: Statistics South Africa

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 1.90 percent in the first quarter of 2026 over the same quarter of the previous year.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 1.90 percent in the first quarter of 2026 over the same quarter of the previous year. GDP Annual Growth Rate in South Africa is expected to be 1.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa GDP Annual Growth Rate is projected to trend around 1.70 percent in 2027 and 1.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-10 09:30 AM
GDP Growth Rate YoY
Q4 0.8% 2.1% 1.8% 1.8%
2026-06-09 09:00 AM
GDP Growth Rate YoY
Q1 1.9% 0.8% 1.8% 1.3%
2026-09-08 09:30 AM
GDP Growth Rate YoY
Q2 1.9% 1.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
GDP Growth Rate YoY 1.90 0.80 percent Mar 2026
GDP Constant Prices 4772091.00 4746211.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Agriculture 141820.00 136524.08 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Construction 98223.00 97984.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Manufacturing 512313.00 516565.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Mining 209866.00 208475.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Public Administration 377562.00 376312.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Services 1183046.00 1172082.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Transport 384491.00 381949.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP from Utilities 93302.00 92954.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
GDP Growth Rate 0.50 0.40 percent Mar 2026


South Africa GDP Annual Growth Rate
South Africa is the most developed country in Africa and was the largest until 2014, when it was overtaken by Nigeria. The largest sector of the economy is services which accounts for around 73 percent of GDP. Within services, the most important are finance, real estate and business services (21.6 percent); government services (17 percent); wholesale, retail and motor trade, catering and accommodation (15 percent); and transport, storage and communication (9.3 percent). Manufacturing accounts for 13.9 percent; mining and quarrying for around 8.3 percent and agriculture for only 2.6 percent.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1.90 0.80 19.20 -16.40 1994 - 2026 percent Quarterly
2015=100, NSA