China vs South Africa: Inflation
Inflation in 2025: 0.1% a year in China and 3.2% a year in South Africa, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Africa, by 3.2 percentage points, or 64 times that in China.
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 | 0.1 2025 | 1.5 | 168 of 179 | 2 2031 |
| South Africa | 3.2 2025 | 4.6 | 79 of 179 | 3 2031 |
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher since 2012, when it overtook China.
- In 2025, China ranked 168 and South Africa ranked 79 of 179 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts China at 2% a year and South Africa at 3% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.1 | 3.2 |
| 2024 | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| 2023 | 0.2 | 5.9 |
| 2022 | 2 | 6.9 |
| 2021 | 0.9 | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 2.5 | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 2.1 | 4.6 |
| 2017 | 1.6 | 5.3 |
| 2016 | 2 | 6.3 |
| 2015 | 1.5 | 4.6 |
| 2014 | 2 | 6.1 |
| 2013 | 2.6 | 5.7 |
| 2012 | 2.6 | 5.7 |
| 2011 | 5.4 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| 2009 | -0.7 | 7.2 |
| 2008 | 5.8 | 10.9 |
| 2007 | 4.8 | 7.1 |
| 2006 | 1.5 | 4.7 |
| 2005 | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| 2004 | 3.9 | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 1.2 | 5.9 |
| 2002 | -0.7 | 9.1 |
| 2001 | 0.7 | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | -1.4 | 5.1 |
| 1998 | -0.8 | 7 |
| 1997 | 2.8 | 8.6 |
| 1996 | 8.3 | 7.4 |
| 1995 | 16.8 | 8.8 |
| 1994 | 24.2 | 8.9 |
| 1993 | 14.7 | 9.6 |
| 1992 | 6.4 | 14 |
| 1991 | 3.5 | 15.1 |
| 1990 | 3.3 | 14.4 |
| 1989 | 18 | 14.8 |
| 1988 | 18.8 | 12.6 |
| 1987 | 7.3 | 16.4 |
| 1986 | 6.5 | 18.2 |
| 1985 | 9.3 | 16.5 |
| 1984 | 2.7 | 11.3 |
| 1983 | 2 | 12.7 |
| 1982 | 2 | 14 |
| 1981 | 2.5 | 15.9 |
| 1980 | – | 14.2 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4.4 |
| 2027 | 1.4 | 3.9 |
| 2028 | 1.6 | 3.3 |
| 2029 | 1.9 | 3 |
| 2030 | 2 | 3 |
| 2031 | 2 | 3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much consumer prices rose in a year, on average.
- 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 179 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