Sub-Saharan Africa
South Africa in numbers South Africa is in Sub-Saharan Africa and is classed by the World Bank as upper middle income. Its capital is Pretoria. Its population was 64.75 million in 2025, ranking 24 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$6,598 in 2025.
Population 64.75 million 2025
GDP US$427.2 billion 2025
GDP per person US$6,598 2025
Life expectancy 66.3 2024
Area 1.22 million 2024
Urban share 63.8% 2025
People 64.75 million
2025 · +37% since 2000 · Rank 24 of 217
1.15%
2025 · 0.91% in 2000 · Rank 93 of 217
52.8
2024 · +36% since 2000 · Rank 151 of 216
63.8%
2025 · 56.3% in 2000 · Rank 111 of 217
25.7%
2025 · 34.9% in 2000 · Rank 91 of 217
6.9%
2025 · 4.7% in 2000 · Rank 126 of 217
2.21
2024 · -9% since 2000 · Rank 94 of 217
Health and living standards 66.3
2024 · +14% since 2000 · Rank 183 of 217
35.1
2024 · -51% since 2000 · Rank 53 of 196
US$537
2023 · +127% since 2000 · Rank 85 of 193
90.2%
2024 · 72.4% in 2000 · Rank 161 of 215
78.4%
2024 · 5.3% in 2000 · Rank 105 of 186
101.8%
2023 · 92.6% in 2000 · Rank 79 of 190
Economy US$427.2 billion
2025 · +182% since 2000 · Rank 40 of 210
US$6,598
2025 · +105% since 2000 · Rank 125 of 210
Int$15,906
2025 · +96% since 2000 · Rank 120 of 199
1.11%
2025 · 4.20% in 2000 · Rank 169 of 210
3.21%
2025 · 5.34% in 2000 · Rank 89 of 180
32.4%
2025 · 22.8% in 2000 · Rank 2 of 187
31.4%
2025 · 24.4% in 2000 · Rank 109 of 183
0.2%
2025 · 0.2% in 2000 · Rank 148 of 176
Land and environment 1.22 million
2024 · +0% since 2000 · Rank 24 of 216
18.8%
2024 · 17.1% in 2000 · Rank 134 of 214
6.88
2024 · -7% since 2000 · Rank 36 of 203
Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for South Africa. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.