16.2 GDP of South Africa and its Unique Sectorial Makeup
All Sectors that make up South Africa GDP
Predominant Sectors: Services contribute significantly to GDP, driven by finance, real estate, and business services. Manufacturing and mining are also crucial contributors.
Not So Predominant Sectors: While agriculture and construction are important, they are not as predominant in shaping the overall GDP landscape.
Total GDP:
Total GDP: As of the latest available data, South Africa’s GDP is $399 billion in 2023.
Primary Industry Share: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing contribute to the primary industry, with sectors including crop farming, livestock, forestry, and fishing playing vital roles. In 2022, agriculture had contributed around 2.57 percent to the GDP of South Africa.
Secondary Industry Share: Manufacturing and construction contribute to the secondary industry, with sectors such as automotive, steel, and chemicals playing key roles. Secondary Industry Shares 24.44 % to the total GDP of South Africa in 2022.
Tertiary Industry Share: Services contribute significantly to the tertiary industry, with finance, tourism, and information technology being major sectors.
This Sector contributes 62.61% of the total value added in 2022.
Figure 1: Gross domestic product (GDP) distribution by economic sectors, 2012–2022
GDP Growth Rate – YOY
Total GDP Growth Rate: The latest year-on-year growth rate is 0.1% in 2023.
Primary Industry growth rate: The growth rate in the primary industry varies, influenced by agriculture and mining performance.
Secondary Industry Growth Rate: The secondary industry’s growth rate fluctuates, driven by manufacturing and construction trends.
Tertiary Industry growth rate: The tertiary industry typically experiences more stable growth, particularly in the services sector.