China vs South Africa: GDP growth
GDP growth in 2025: 5% a year in China and 1.1% a year in South Africa, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in China, by 3.9 percentage points, or 4.48 times that in South Africa.
ChinaSouth Africa
Watch it change on the map% a year · IMF
Latest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 5 2025 | 7 | 33 of 143 | 3.3 2031 |
| South Africa | 1.1 2025 | 1.3 | 120 of 143 | 1.8 2031 |
What the numbers say
- China has been higher since 1982, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, China ranked 33 and South Africa ranked 120 of 143 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts China at 3.3% a year and South Africa at 1.8% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1.1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0.5 |
| 2023 | 5.4 | 0.8 |
| 2022 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 8.6 | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 2.3 | -6.2 |
| 2019 | 6.1 | 0.3 |
| 2018 | 6.8 | 1.6 |
| 2017 | 6.9 | 1.2 |
| 2016 | 6.8 | 0.7 |
| 2015 | 7 | 1.3 |
| 2014 | 7.5 | 1.4 |
| 2013 | 7.8 | 2.5 |
| 2012 | 7.8 | 2.4 |
| 2011 | 9.5 | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 10.6 | 3 |
| 2009 | 9.4 | -1.5 |
| 2008 | 9.6 | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 14.2 | 5.4 |
| 2006 | 12.7 | 5.6 |
| 2005 | 11.4 | 5.3 |
| 2004 | 10.1 | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 10.1 | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 9.2 | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 8.3 | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 8.6 | 4.2 |
| 1999 | 7.8 | 2.4 |
| 1998 | 7.9 | 0.5 |
| 1997 | 9.3 | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 10 | 4.3 |
| 1995 | 11 | 3.1 |
| 1994 | 13.1 | 3.2 |
| 1993 | 13.9 | 1.2 |
| 1992 | 14.3 | -2.1 |
| 1991 | 10.2 | -1 |
| 1990 | 3.9 | -0.3 |
| 1989 | 4.2 | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 11.2 | 4.2 |
| 1987 | 11.7 | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 8.9 | 0 |
| 1985 | 13.5 | -1.2 |
| 1984 | 15.2 | 5.1 |
| 1983 | 10.8 | -1.8 |
| 1982 | 9 | -0.4 |
| 1981 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| 1980 | 7.9 | 6.6 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.5 | 1 |
| 2027 | 4 | 1.3 |
| 2028 | 4 | 1.5 |
| 2029 | 3.7 | 1.7 |
| 2030 | 3.3 | 1.8 |
| 2031 | 3.3 | 1.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much the economy grew or shrank in a year, after inflation.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 143 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time