South Africa vs Spain: GDP growth
GDP growth in 2025: 1.1% a year in South Africa and 2.6% a year in Spain, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Spain, by 1.5 percentage points, or 2.32 times that in South Africa.
South AfricaSpain
Watch it change on the map% a year · IMF
Latest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 1.1 2025 | 1.3 | 120 of 143 | 1.8 2031 |
| Spain | 2.6 2025 | 4.1 | 88 of 143 | 1.7 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Spain has been higher since 2021, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, South Africa ranked 120 and Spain ranked 88 of 143 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts South Africa at 1.8% a year and Spain at 1.7% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | South Africa | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.1 | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 0.5 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 2.1 | 6.4 |
| 2021 | 4.9 | 6.7 |
| 2020 | -6.2 | -10.9 |
| 2019 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2016 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
| 2015 | 1.3 | 4.1 |
| 2014 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| 2013 | 2.5 | -1.4 |
| 2012 | 2.4 | -2.9 |
| 2011 | 3.2 | -0.6 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0.1 |
| 2009 | -1.5 | -3.8 |
| 2008 | 3.2 | 0.8 |
| 2007 | 5.4 | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 5.6 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5.3 | 3.6 |
| 2004 | 4.6 | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 3.7 | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 2.7 | 3.9 |
| 2000 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| 1999 | 2.4 | 4.7 |
| 1998 | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| 1997 | 2.6 | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| 1995 | 3.1 | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 3.2 | 2.3 |
| 1993 | 1.2 | -1.3 |
| 1992 | -2.1 | 0.9 |
| 1991 | -1 | 2.5 |
| 1990 | -0.3 | 3.8 |
| 1989 | 2.4 | 5 |
| 1988 | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| 1987 | 2.1 | 5.7 |
| 1986 | 0 | 3.4 |
| 1985 | -1.2 | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 5.1 | 1.7 |
| 1983 | -1.8 | 1.7 |
| 1982 | -0.4 | 1.2 |
| 1981 | 5.4 | -0.4 |
| 1980 | 6.6 | 1.2 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | South Africa | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 2027 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| 2028 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| 2029 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| 2030 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| 2031 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
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