Region · southern_africa
Southern Africa
Period
Southern Africa: GDP of 736.5 bn$ in 2025 (IMF), +41.6 % since 2020 in current dollars. Growth in 2025: +2.2 %.
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026) · copied on 2026-11-11
- GDP, current dollars
- 736.5 bn$
- 2025 · +41.6 % since 2020
- GDP per capita
- 3,495 $
- 2025 · +26.8 % since 2020
- Inflation
- 13.7 %
- 2025 · −27.9 pt since 2020
- Public debt
- 70.2 %
- 2025 · −6.1 pt since 2020
GDP, current dollars
Billions of current dollars · dashed: estimates and projections
The five regions
GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025
- 1 Central Africa +62.7 %
- 2 Southern Africa +41.6 %
- 3 East Africa +33.5 %
- 4 North Africa +23.6 %
- 5 West Africa −17.0 %
All indicators
Value in 2025 and change since 2020
| Indicator | 2020 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | −5.7 % | +2.2 % | +7.9 pt |
| GDP, current dollars | 519.9 bn$ | 736.5 bn$ | +41.6 % |
| GDP per capita | 2,756 $ | 3,495 $ | +26.8 % |
| GDP per capita, PPP | 7,001 $ | 8,941 $ | +27.7 % |
| Inflation | 41.6 % | 13.7 % | −27.9 pt |
| Public debt | 76.3 % | 70.2 % | −6.1 pt |
| Population | 188.6 M | 210.7 M | +11.7 % |
| Fiscal balance | −7.9 % | −4.9 % | +3.0 pt |
| Current account | +0.8 % | −1.1 % | −1.9 pt |
| Unemployment | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Member countries
GDP in current dollars, 2020 → 2025
Public finances and external accounts
A fiscal deficit of 4.9 % of GDP
Southern Africa: in 2025, the general government spent 4.9 % of GDP more than it collected, public debt stood at 70.2 % of GDP, the current account showed a deficit of 1.1 % (IMF).
- Fiscal balance · 2025
- −4.9 %
- of GDP · +3.0 pt since 2020
- Public debt · 2025
- 70.2 %
- of GDP · −6.1 pt since 2020
- Current account · 2025
- −1.1 %
- of GDP · −1.9 pt since 2020
Fiscal balance, % of GDP
Negative: a deficit · dashed: estimates and projections
- Southern Africa
- Africa
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026) · general government net lending or borrowing · group values weighted by GDP in dollars (Syli Atlas)
Current account, % of GDP
Trade, income and transfers with the rest of the world
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)
Questions
How much has the economy of Southern Africa grown since 2020?
Southern Africa: GDP of 736.5 bn$ in 2025 (IMF), +41.6 % since 2020 in current dollars. Growth in 2025: +2.2 %.
What is the GDP per capita of Southern Africa?
3,495 $ in 2025 at market exchange rates, 8,941 $ in purchasing power parity (IMF).
What is the inflation rate in Southern Africa?
13.7 % in 2025, average annual change in consumer prices (IMF).
What is the public debt of Southern Africa?
70.2 % of GDP in 2025, gross debt of the general government (IMF).
Discussion
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Open the discussion →Cite this page
Syli Atlas, « Southern Africa », https://dev.syliatlas.com/en/regions/southern-africa. Data: IMF, World Economic Outlook (October 2026).