South Africa profile

Demography and Health

South Africa is home to about 64,007,187 people as of 2024, placing it among the most populous countries in Africa and signaling substantial demographic weight for policy and markets. Life expectancy at birth stands at 66.1 years in 2023, continuing a pattern of comparatively lower longevity relative to many upper‑middle‑income peers. The country’s population remains young in structure, with a birth rate of 18.8 per 1,000 people in 2023 (83rd among peers) while the crude death rate is 9.24 per 1,000 (49th). The mortality profile is also visible in under‑5 mortality at 34.7 per 1,000 live births (2023), indicating ongoing challenges in maternal and child health outcomes that intersect with access to services and nutrition. The country experiences positive net migration—166,972 people in 2024—contributing to population growth and potential labor market pressures, while net outflows or inflows of specific skilled groups can influence sectors like health and science. A notable mental health concern appears in suicide mortality at 22.3 per 100,000 (2021), highlighting the need for robust behavioral health services alongside traditional care. Internet penetration is strong, with 75.7% of the population online in 2023, enabling digital health information, telemedicine, and health education. In health financing, current health expenditure is 8.77% of GDP (2022), and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, is 826 international US$ (2022), with 0.809 physicians per 1,000 people (2021). Yet 8.1% of the population faced undernourishment in 2022, underscoring the link between nutrition, health outcomes, and economic access that policy must systematically address.

Economy

South Africa’s economy presents a multifaceted profile. GDP per capita stands at 6,253 current US$ in 2024, while GDP per capita, PPP, is 15,457 international US$, signaling a higher standard of living when adjusted for price differences but still below many advanced peers. Inflation was 4.36% in 2024, signaling price stability within a moderate range and influencing consumer purchasing power and monetary policy. The country faces a pronounced unemployment challenge, with the total unemployment rate at 32.1% in 2023, the highest in the dataset, reflecting structural labor market issues and potential social consequences if job creation lags growth. The defense outlay is sizable at 2.78 billion US$ in 2023, reflecting security and strategic considerations that interact with fiscal space and development priorities. The economy operates with open trade into global markets: exports of goods and services represent 31.8% of GDP (2024) while imports account for 29.9% (2024), indicating a relatively trade‑dependent economy with exposure to global cycles. The country demonstrates notable strength in knowledge‑intensive exports, with high‑technology exports totaling about 2.45 billion US$ (2024), ranking 13th, and resident patent activity at 1,804 applications (2021). R&D intensity is modest at 0.617% of GDP (2022), consistent with a phase of innovation and diffusion in various sectors. Foreign direct investment net inflows amount to 0.606% of GDP (2024), reflecting a moderate ability to attract capital for investment projects, while the current account balance stands at −0.596% of GDP (2024), indicating a mild external deficit financed by capital flows. Taken together, these indicators reveal a dynamic economy with strengths in technology and openness but facing structural unemployment, investment constraints, and macroeconomic balancing needs.

Trade and Investment

South Africa displays a fairly open and trade‑oriented profile. Exports of goods and services reach 31.8% of GDP in 2024, while imports are 29.9% of GDP, signaling substantial participation in regional and global value chains. The current account is negative by 0.596% of GDP in 2024, implying a modest external deficit that needs financing through capital inflows, including foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI net inflows amount to 0.606% of GDP (2024), pointing to a steady but not dominant level of foreign capital participation in the economy. The logistics environment is relatively strong, with a Logistics Performance Index (quality of trade and transport infrastructure) of 3.6 (2022) on a 1–5 scale and a rank of 10, suggesting efficient logistics that support cross‑border trade. On the technology front, high‑technology exports total about 2.45 billion US$ (2024), and resident patent applications number 1,804 (2021), underscoring a capability to generate and protect knowledge‑based outputs. These data collectively indicate an economy that is integrated with global markets, leverages logistics strengths, and maintains a growing but cautious stance toward technology‑driven growth and investment.

Governance and Institutions

South Africa’s governance landscape shows a mix of structural strengths and persistent challenges. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score −0.666 (2023) with a rank of 155, signaling meaningful risk factors that can affect policy continuity and investment sentiment. Regulatory quality is also constrained at −0.224 (2023), rank 107, suggesting uneven regulatory environments that may complicate business planning and reforms. In contrast, the rule of law is positive at 0.0862 (2023), rank 89, indicating some effective legal frameworks and protections that can underpin markets and fair adjudication. Control of corruption sits at −0.285 (2023), rank 101, and government effectiveness at −0.257 (2023), rank 114, together highlighting governance weaknesses in public sector performance and anti‑corruption efforts. These indicators point to a governance system with areas of policy coherence and rule of law, but also significant room for improvement in political stability, regulatory quality, corruption control, and public administration. On the flip side, the same logistics effectiveness that supports trade and investment may derive from capable public‑sector interfaces when governance conditions permit, suggesting potential for reform to unlock further efficiency. Overall, governance and institutions in South Africa reflect a mixed picture: pockets of capability coexisting with considerable governance‑related risks that need persistent reform and credible institutions to sustain inclusive growth.

Infrastructure and Technology

South Africa shows considerable strengths in infrastructure and technology alongside important constraints. The logistics performance index, measuring quality of trade and transport–related infrastructure, is 3.6 (2022) on a 1–5 scale with a rank of 10, indicating relatively high capability in logistics, ports, roads, and customs processes compared with many peers. The technology footprint is evident in high‑technology exports totaling about 2.45 billion US$ (2024) and resident patent applications at 1,804 (2021), signaling active participation in advanced manufacturing and innovation. Research and development expenditure stands at 0.617% of GDP (2022), indicating ongoing but modest investment in knowledge creation, which is typical of a developing economy aiming to lift productivity through innovation. Digital connectivity is robust, with 75.7% of the population online in 2023, supporting e‑services, digital commerce, and knowledge exchange. The health and science ecosystem shows 0.809 physicians per 1,000 people (2021) and domestic health expenditure per capita (PPP) of 826 international US$ (2022), illustrating a service‑oriented health system under financing constraints. Yet infrastructure and energy resilience face pressures: renewable energy accounts for 9.7% of final energy consumption (2021), and water stress stands at 66.9% of available freshwater resources (2021), signaling ongoing transitions and adaptation needs in power and water sectors. Taken together, South Africa’s infrastructure and technology landscape combines solid logistics, digital reach, and innovation with resource, energy, and sustainability challenges that require integrated policy action.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental and sustainability dimensions are prominent in South Africa’s development trajectory. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita, excluding LULUCF, are 8.26 tCO2e per person in 2023, reflecting a relatively high carbon intensity tied to industrial activity, mining, and energy use. Water resource stress is acute, with the level of water stress at 66.9% of freshwater withdrawal relative to available resources (2021), signaling vulnerability to drought and climate variability and highlighting the need for water security investments and efficiency. Renewable energy consumption accounts for 9.7% of total final energy consumption (2021), indicating an ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources but still a minority share that demands policy acceleration and investment. Social dimensions intersect with environmental trends, as undernourishment affects 8.1% of the population (2022) and suicide mortality remains a health risk at 22.3 per 100,000 (2021). Life expectancy at birth (66.1 years, 2023) and other health indicators reflect the broader welfare implications of environmental and economic pressures. Together these data point to a country balancing high‑emission activity and significant natural resource pressures with concerted work toward energy transition, water resilience, and nutrition security to improve long‑term sustainability.