Refugees
137,535refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
3,894from it, abroad, 2025
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026
South Africa
South Africa mines 36% of the world’s palladium (USGS, 2025, estimated). It has 65 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $427 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of its potash supply (FAOSTAT, 2024, estimated) and 99% of the gas it uses (EIA, 2024, preliminary).
Written automatically from the figures on this page.
- Population
- 65 m (2025)
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.
- GDPUS$427billion39th of 186World Bank · 2025
- Population65million24th of 216World Bank · 2025
- GDP per personUS$6,598104th of 186World Bank · 2025
- Military, % GDP0.7% of GDP127th of 150World Bank · 2025
- CO2 per person6.9t42nd of 213Global Carbon Budget · 2024
Dependencies at a glance
South Africa imports all of its potash supply and 99% of the gas it uses; it exports maize.
Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
| Resource | Dependence | Position | Main partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | Imports most | Imports 85% of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Nigeria, Angola, United States |
| Natural gas | Imports most | Imports 99% of the gas it uses PreliminaryEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, United States → South Africa as reported by the exporter | Mozambique, United States, China |
| Wheat | Imports some | Imports 44% of the wheat it uses EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Poland, Lithuania, Russia |
| Maize | Exporter | Exports 27% of what it produces EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023 | Taiwan, South Korea, Zimbabwe (buyers) |
| Rice | Imports most | Imports all of the rice it uses EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Thailand, India |
| Soybeans | Low net trade | Exports 4.8% of what it produces EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Zambia, Eswatini |
| Potash | Imports most | Imports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Russia, Germany, Uzbekistan |
| Phosphate | Imports some | Imports 28% of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Russia, China, Saudi Arabia |
| Arms | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: Netherlands, 100% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025 | Netherlands |
| Chips | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: China, 32% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025 | China, Taiwan, Thailand |
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
- OilImports most
Imports 85% of the oil it uses
Main partners: Nigeria, Angola, United States
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- Natural gasImports most
Imports 99% of the gas it uses Preliminary
Main partners: Mozambique, United States, China
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, United States → South Africa as reported by the exporter
- WheatImports some
Imports 44% of the wheat it uses Estimate
Main partners: Poland, Lithuania, Russia
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- MaizeExporter
Exports 27% of what it produces Estimate
Main partners: Taiwan, South Korea, Zimbabwe (buyers)
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023
- RiceImports most
Imports all of the rice it uses Estimate
Main partners: Thailand, India
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- SoybeansLow net trade
Exports 4.8% of what it produces Estimate
Main partners: Zambia, Eswatini
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- PotashImports most
Imports all of its potash supply Estimate
Main partners: Russia, Germany, Uzbekistan
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- PhosphateImports some
Imports 28% of its phosphate supply Estimate
Main partners: Russia, China, Saudi Arabia
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- ArmsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: Netherlands, 100% of imports
Main partners: Netherlands
SIPRI, 2021–2025
- ChipsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: China, 32% of imports
Main partners: China, Taiwan, Thailand
UN Comtrade, 2025
Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRI; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Dependencies toolWhere it supplies 10% or more of the world
South Africa mines 36% of the world’s palladium (USGS, 2025, estimated).
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries2025, estimatedUpdated 13 Nov 2026Estimate
Critical minerals mapMoney and reserves
South Africa’s economy produced $427 bn in 2025.
GDP, 2000–2025
Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026
Economic growth1.1%2025 · 154th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation3.2%2025 · 82nd of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment32.4%2025 · 2nd of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$65.4billion2024 · 36th of 164 · World Bank
Trade62% of GDP2024 · 116th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment in−US$2.16billion2025 · 194th of 200 · World Bank
People
South Africa had 65 m people in 2025.
Population, 1950–2100
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios
Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection
South Africa’s population by age
1950200020502100
Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Births per woman2.222023 · 99th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age28.22023 · 144th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over6.9%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
Technology and space
Satellites owned in South Africa numbered 3 at the end of 2026.
Climate and hazards
South Africa emitted 440 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.
South Africa’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026
CO2 emissions440Mt2024 · 15th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person6.9t2024 · 42nd of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 175022,827Mt2024 · 13th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress4.22023 · 22nd of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
More figures
Shown only where a source covers South Africa.
Sanctions
48entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 46 and UK 2
Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.
Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Chinese loans and grants
US$21.3billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021
Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021
Cyber incidents
22publicly known incidents affecting South Africa, 2000–2024
Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted. Who they were attributed to
Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024
All figures
55 measures on this site have a recent figure for South Africa.
| GDP | $427 bn | 2025 | 39th of 186 | World Bank |
| GDP per person | $6,598 | 2025 | 104th of 186 | World Bank |
| Economic growth | 1.1% | 2025 | 154th of 186 | World Bank |
| Inflation | 3.2% | 2025 | 82nd of 169 | World Bank |
| Government debt | Estimate | 2025 | 45th of 191 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Government budget balance | Estimate | 2025 | 163rd of 195 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Current account balance | −0.5% | 2025 | 81st of 194 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | 2025 | 2nd of 181 | World Bank |
| Reserves, including gold | $65 bn | 2024 | 36th of 164 | World Bank |
| Trade | 62% | 2024 | 116th of 172 | World Bank |
| Foreign investment in | −$2.2 bn | 2025 | 194th of 200 | World Bank |
| Remittances received | 0.2% | 2024 | 137th of 162 | World Bank |
| Population | 65 m | 2025 | 24th of 216 | World Bank |
| Population with UN projections | 63 m | 2023 | 24th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Births per woman | 2.22 | 2023 | 99th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Median age | 28.2 | 2023 | 144th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Life expectancy | 66.1 | 2023 | 202nd of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Refugees from the country | 3,894 | 2025 | 98th of 206 | UNHCR |
| Refugees and others needing protection, by host | 137,535 | 2025 | 53rd of 176 | UNHCR |
| Refugees hosted per 1,000 people | 2.1 | 2025 | 100th of 176 | UNHCR |
| Crude oil production | 0 kb/d | 2025 | 92nd of 214 | EIA |
| Oil consumption | 612 kb/d | 2024 | 30th of 212 | EIA |
| Natural gas production | Preliminary | 2024 | 79th of 213 | EIA |
| Natural gas consumption | 3.9 bcm | 2024 | 67th of 213 | EIA |
| Electricity generated | 248 TWh | 2024 | 22nd of 193 | Ember |
| Low-carbon electricity | 16% | 2024 | 138th of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from coal | 84% | 2024 | 4th of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from wind and solar | 12% | 2024 | 64th of 193 | Ember |
| Wheat production | 1.9 Mt | 2024 | 40th of 123 | FAOSTAT |
| Wheat imports | 2.0 Mt | 2024 | 29th of 180 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize production | 12.9 Mt | 2024 | 12th of 169 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize imports | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 125th of 196 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice production | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 103rd of 135 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice imports | 1.4 Mt | 2024 | 11th of 197 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean production | 1.8 Mt | 2024 | 12th of 108 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean imports | 0.1 Mt | 2024 | 58th of 179 | FAOSTAT |
| Potash fertiliser use | 0.31 Mt | 2024 | 19th of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| Phosphate fertiliser use | 0.49 Mt | 2024 | 15th of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | 2024 | 15th of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 per person | 6.9 t | 2024 | 42nd of 213 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 emitted since 1750 | 22,827 Mt | 2024 | 13th of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Net CO2 imports through trade | −25% | 2023 | 113th of 120 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Water stress | 4.2 | 2023 | 22nd of 164 | WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0) |
| Water from abroad | 13% | 2023 | 79th of 193 | FAO AQUASTAT |
| Military spending, share of GDP | 0.7% | 2025 | 127th of 150 | World Bank |
| Military spending | $3.2 bn | 2025 | 52nd of 150 | World Bank |
| Deaths in organised violence | 17 | 2025 | 47th of 61 | UCDP |
| Arms imports | 30 TIV m | 2025 | 65th of 108 | SIPRI |
| Arms exports | 115 TIV m | 2025 | 24th of 44 | SIPRI |
| Satellites in orbit | 3 | 2026 | 54th of 81 | Orbital data from CelesTrak |
| People using the internet | 78% | 2024 | 102nd of 182 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports | $1.5 bn | 2024 | 57th of 162 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports, share of service exports | 9.5% | 2024 | 61st of 162 | World Bank |
| Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK) | 48 | 2026 | 54th of 181 | US CSL |
| Chinese loans and grants committed | $177 m | 2021 | 32nd of 122 | AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0 |
Sources for this page
- World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
- IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
- UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
- UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
- U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
- Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
- FAOSTATWheat production, Wheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, …
- Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750, Net CO2 imports through trade
- WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
- FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
- UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
- SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Arms exports, Dependencies at a glance
- CelesTrak SATCATSatellites in orbit
- US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
- AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
- UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
- USGS Mineral Commodity SummariesMinerals
- EU financial sanctions listSanctions
- UK Sanctions ListSanctions
- EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents
Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure