South Africa GDP Growth Rate

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 0.90 percent in the first quarter of 2013 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in South Africa is reported by the Statistics South Africa. Historically, from 1993 until 2013, South Africa GDP Growth Rate averaged 3.23 Percent reaching an all time high of 7.60 Percent in March of 1996 and a record low of -6.30 Percent in March of 2009. South Africa export-based economy is the largest and most developed in Africa. The country is rich in natural resources and is a leading producer of platinum, gold, chromium and iron. From 2002 to 2008, South Africa grew at an average of 4.5 percent year-on-year, its fastest expansion since the establishment of democracy in 1994. However, in recent years, successive governments have failed to address structural problems such as the widening gap between rich and poor, low-skilled labour force, high unemployment rate, deteriorating infrastructure, high corruption and crime rates. As a result, since the recession in 2008, South Africa growth has been sluggish and below African average. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa GDP Growth Rate.

FROM TO COMPARE
South Africa GDP Growth Rate

GDP Last Previous Highest Lowest Forecast Unit Trend
GDP Growth Rate 0.90 Mar/2013 2.10 7.60 -6.30 2.68 Jun/2013 Percent Trend
GDP Annual Growth Rate 1.90 Mar/2013 2.50 7.10 -2.70 1.46 Jun/2013 Percent Trend
Gross National Product 2017837.00 Nov/2012 2018615.00 2018615.00 355030.00 2025156.00 Mar/2013 ZAR Million Trend
GDP 408.24 Dec/2011 363.70 408.24 7.34 411.66 Dec/2012 USD Billion Trend
GDP per capita 3825.09 Dec/2011 3753.44 3825.09 2207.37 3830.68 Dec/2012 USD Trend
GDP per capita PPP 10959.74 Dec/2011 10520.03 10959.74 4183.73 10995.25 Dec/2012 USD Trend


Calendar Country Event Reference Actual Previous Consensus Forecast
26/Feb/2013 09:30 AM
South Africa GDP Growth Rate Q4 2012
28/May/2013 10:30 AM
South Africa GDP Growth Rate QoQ Q1 2013 0.90% 2.10% 1.60% 2.90%
27/Aug/2013 10:30 AM
South Africa GDP Growth Rate QoQ Q2 2013 0.90% 2.68%
26/Nov/2013 09:30 AM
South Africa GDP Growth Rate QoQ Q3 2013

South African GDP Growth Slows to 0.9% QoQ in Q1 2013
Statistics South Africa | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com  |  5/28/2013 11:51:36 AM


In South Africa, the seasonally adjusted GDP for the first quarter of 2013 increased by an annualized rate of 0.9 percent quarter-on-quarter, compared with an expansion of 2.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. It is the weakest pace since the contraction in the second quarter of 2009, mainly due to a shrinkage in manufacturing output.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the mining and quarrying industry expanded by an annualized rate of 14.6 percent, due to higher production in gold mining and the mining of other metal ores (including platinum).

Finance, real estate and business services increased by an annualized rate of 3.3 percent, due to increased activities in the equity, bond and other financial markets in auxiliary activities.

The transport, storage and communication industry recorded a 2.2 percent expansion while general government services grew by an annualized rate of 1.9 percent. 

The wholesale, retail, motor trade, catering and accommodation industry expanded by 1.9 percent and the construction sector grew by an annualized rate of 0.9 percent. 

Economic activity in the manufacturing industry reflected negative growth of 7.9 percent, due to lower production in the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division, the basic iron and steel, metal products and machinery division, the wood and wood products, the furniture and other manufacturing division and the radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment division. 

Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry shrank by an annualized rate of 4.9 percent.

On a year-over-year basis, the GDP expanded by 1.9 percent.


ARCHIVE
South Africa GDP Growth Accelerates in Q4 In the fourth quarter of 2012, South Africa real GDP at market prices increased by 2.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter. The main contributors were the agriculture sector, manufacturing industry, and finance, real estate and business services. 2013-02-26



GDP Growth Rate | Notes

The GDP Growth Rate shows a percentage change in the seasonally adjusted GDP value in the certain quarter, compared to the previous quarter. Because of climatic conditions and holidays, the intensity of the production varies throughout the year. This makes a direct comparison of two consecutive quarters difficult. In order to adjust for these conditions, many countries calculate the quarterly GDP using so called seasonally adjusted method. The Gross Domestic Product can be determined using three different approaches: the product, the income, and the expenditure technique, which should give the same result. In sum, the product technique sums the outputs of every class of enterprise. The expenditure technique works on the principle that every product must be bought by somebody, therefore the value of the total product must be equal to people's total expenditures in buying products and services. The income technique works on the principle that the incomes of the productive factors must be equal to the value of their product, and determines GDP by finding the sum of all producers' incomes.



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