GERD as a percentage of GDP in South Africa

South Africa: GERD as a percentage of GDP was 0.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
0.6%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
56th
of 116 countries
All-time high
0.8%
in 2008
All-time low
0.5%
in 1997
Years of data
22
1997–2022

GERD as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, 1997–2022

00.20.40.60.81997200920221997: 0.5272001: 0.6422003: 0.6762004: 0.7272005: 0.772006: 0.8032007: 0.7942008: 0.8062009: 0.752010: 0.6632011: 0.6682012: 0.6692013: 0.6632014: 0.712015: 0.7312016: 0.752017: 0.7632018: 0.6862019: 0.6132020: 0.6032021: 0.6142022: 0.615

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gerd as a percentage of gdp in South Africa is 0.6%, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gerd as a percentage of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1997.

South Africa ranks 56th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

GERD as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for GERD as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, 1997 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1997 0.5%
2001 0.6% +21.9%
2003 0.7% +5.3%
2004 0.7% +7.4%
2005 0.8% +6.0%
2006 0.8% +4.2%
2007 0.8% -1.2%
2008 0.8% +1.5%
2009 0.7% -6.9%
2010 0.7% -11.6%
2011 0.7% +0.7%
2012 0.7% +0.3%
2013 0.7% -0.9%
2014 0.7% +7.0%
2015 0.7% +3.0%
2016 0.7% +2.5%
2017 0.8% +1.7%
2018 0.7% -10.1%
2019 0.6% -10.6%
2020 0.6% -1.6%
2021 0.6% +1.8%
2022 0.6% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 1
2000s 0.7% 0.6% 0.8% 8
2010s 0.7% 0.6% 0.8% 10
2020s 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 53 Malta 0.6% compare
  2. 54 India 0.6% compare
  3. 55 Saudi Arabia 0.6% compare
  4. 57 Argentina 0.6% compare
  5. 58 Belarus 0.6% compare
  6. 59 Romania 0.5% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gerd as a percentage of gdp in South Africa?
Gerd as a percentage of gdp in South Africa was 0.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gerd as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest gerd as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1997.
How does South Africa rank for gerd as a percentage of gdp?
South Africa ranks 56th out of 116 countries with data for 2022.
Is gerd as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GERD as a percentage of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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GERD as a percentage of GDP in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/gerd-as-a-percentage-of-gdp/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
GERD as a percentage of GDP
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
166 places, 3,775 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release