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CompareEconomy.com Comparison of world economies

South Africa

World Rank 40 3.77 South Africa flag svg
Capital
Area
Currency
Pretoria
1,221,037 km 2
South African rand (ZAR)

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Republic of South Africa, also known as RSA, is the southernmost country in the continent. It is one of the most important nations in Africa and in the entire world, being the 24th-most populous nation. Due to its large size, it does not have high density numbers. Interestingly, RSA has three different capital cities. The executive one is Pretoria, the judicial is Bloemfontein, and the legislative is Cape Town. Interestingly, these are not the largest - Johannesburg is the one with the largest population.

Economy

$763 billion was the value of the GDP (PPP included) of South Africa in 2019, according to World Bank Data. As a result, it is one of the largest economies in the entire continent (only after Egypt and Nigeria). Interestingly, if we compare its GDP to the entire GDP of the Sub-Saharan region of the continent, then it accounts for almost 18% of its GDP. 

Another economic comparison worth noting is the GDP per capita. It indicates the average wealth of the citizen, and it is at the level of $13,000. Excluding some minor nations, it has one of the largest ones in Africa. 

Gross domestic product (GDP, GDP PPP)

Gross domestic product (GDP)

  • Last
  • Historical chart
#31 (2021)
419,015,018,371 US$

List of countries by GDP

(United States of America (USA))

Gross domestic product growth rate

Gross domestic product per capita

Gross domestic product (PPP)

Gross domestic product (PPP) per capita

International trade (Export, Import)

External balance on goods and services

  • Last
  • Historical chart
#20 (2021)
25,851,755,516 US$

List of countries by external balance on goods and services

(China)

External balance on goods and services (% of GDP)

Exports of goods and services (current US$)

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)

Imports of goods and services (current US$)

Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)

Employment by sector, Unemployment

Unemployment (% of total labor force)

  • Last
  • Historical chart
#1 (2021)
28.77 %

List of countries by unemployment

(South Africa)

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

Employment in services (% of total employment)

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)