- Output · rank 42/187
- $410B
- People · rank 24/187
- 64.7M
- Land · rank 24/187
- 1,213K km²
- GDP per person
- $6,337
- Density
- 53.3 /km²
Government debt
76.5%gross debt, share of GDP
$314Boutstanding, rank 31 of 178
- Perimeter
- General government
- Basis
- Gross, not net
- Valuation
- Nominal
- Debt per person
- $4,847
- Net of assets
- 68.2%
- Source
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 76.5%; net of the government’s financial assets it is 68.2%, a 8.3% gap.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.
Private-sector debt
- Households
- 34.1% of GDP
- Non-financial corporations
- 38.2% of GDP
- Total private
- 72.3% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 72.3% of GDP, set against the public figure above.
Currency & monetary policy
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.
House prices
Prices rose in cash terms but fell after inflation — housing got cheaper in purchasing-power terms despite the headline rise.
Payment rails
| System | Type | Live since |
|---|---|---|
| PayShap | Instant retail | 2023 |
| SAMOS | Large-value RTGS | 1998 |
Against its region and the world
Where South Africa sits relative to the Africa average and the world average.
GDP per person (USD)
This country6,337
Region average1,882
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country53
Region average53
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country77
Region average66
World average95
Major banks
Largest institutions headquartered in South Africa, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.
| Institution | Total assets | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Bank Group | $180B |
| 2 | Absa Group | $120B |
| 3 | Nedbank | $90B |
All figures
- Nominal GDP
- $410B
- Share of world output
- 0.36%
- Population
- 64.7M
- Share of world population
- 0.79%
- Land area
- 1,213,090 km²
- Share of world land
- 0.94%
- GDP per person
- $6,337
- GDP per km²
- $337,980
- Population density
- 53.3 /km²
- Government debt
- 76.5%
- Debt outstanding
- $314B
Where these figures come from
- Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
- IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate - PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
- UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate - Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
- UN Statistics Division
2024 - General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
- S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking - Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
- IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
- IMF AREAER
2025 - Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
- Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live - Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
- BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter