Key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Key features of democracy, annual growth rate was 1.23 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.23 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 60.3%
World rank
37th
of 176 countries
All-time high
67.6 % change on previous year
in 1995
All-time low
-16.23 % change on previous year
in 1961
Years of data
125
1901–2025
Key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1901–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 1.23 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 60.3% on the previous year and up 409.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 67.6 % change on previous year in 1995 and was at its lowest, -16.23 % change on previous year, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 37th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1902 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1903 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1904 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1905 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1906 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1907 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1908 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1909 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1910 | 19.23 % change on previous year | — |
| 1911 | 20.97 % change on previous year | +9.0% |
| 1912 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1913 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1914 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1915 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1916 | -0.4444 % change on previous year | — |
| 1917 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1918 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1919 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1920 | 0.4464 % change on previous year | — |
| 1921 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1922 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1923 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1924 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1925 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1926 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1927 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1928 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1929 | 0.4444 % change on previous year | — |
| 1930 | 0.4425 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1931 | 1.76 % change on previous year | +298.2% |
| 1932 | 2.16 % change on previous year | +22.8% |
| 1933 | -0.4237 % change on previous year | -119.6% |
| 1934 | -0.4255 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1935 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1936 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1937 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1938 | 0.4274 % change on previous year | — |
| 1939 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1940 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1941 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1942 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1943 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1944 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1945 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1946 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1947 | -1.7 % change on previous year | — |
| 1948 | -10.39 % change on previous year | +510.4% |
| 1949 | -2.9 % change on previous year | -72.1% |
| 1950 | -0.995 % change on previous year | -65.7% |
| 1951 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1952 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1953 | -1.51 % change on previous year | — |
| 1954 | -0.5102 % change on previous year | -66.2% |
| 1955 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1956 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1957 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1958 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1959 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1960 | -2.05 % change on previous year | — |
| 1961 | -16.23 % change on previous year | +691.2% |
| 1962 | 4.38 % change on previous year | -127.0% |
| 1963 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1964 | -2.4 % change on previous year | — |
| 1965 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1966 | 0.6135 % change on previous year | — |
| 1967 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1968 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1969 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1970 | 0.6098 % change on previous year | — |
| 1971 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1972 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1973 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1974 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1975 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1976 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1977 | -1.21 % change on previous year | — |
| 1978 | -1.23 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1980 | -0.6211 % change on previous year | — |
| 1981 | 10 % change on previous year | -1710.0% |
| 1982 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1983 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1984 | 0.5682 % change on previous year | — |
| 1985 | 0.565 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1987 | -1.12 % change on previous year | — |
| 1988 | -0.5682 % change on previous year | -49.4% |
| 1989 | 6.29 % change on previous year | -1206.3% |
| 1990 | 20.43 % change on previous year | +225.0% |
| 1991 | 13.39 % change on previous year | -34.4% |
| 1992 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1993 | 3.94 % change on previous year | — |
| 1994 | 48.48 % change on previous year | +1131.5% |
| 1995 | 67.6 % change on previous year | +39.4% |
| 1996 | 0.9132 % change on previous year | -98.6% |
| 1997 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 0.7541 % change on previous year | — |
| 1999 | 6.14 % change on previous year | +713.9% |
| 2000 | 4.8 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 2001 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2003 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2004 | 2.83 % change on previous year | — |
| 2005 | 1.83 % change on previous year | -35.2% |
| 2006 | 0.1285 % change on previous year | -93.0% |
| 2007 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2008 | -0.5135 % change on previous year | — |
| 2009 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3871 % change on previous year | — |
| 2011 | -0.1285 % change on previous year | -133.2% |
| 2012 | 0.2574 % change on previous year | -300.3% |
| 2013 | -1.8 % change on previous year | -798.2% |
| 2014 | -0.915 % change on previous year | -49.1% |
| 2015 | -0.3958 % change on previous year | -56.7% |
| 2016 | -0.3974 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2017 | -1.86 % change on previous year | +368.5% |
| 2018 | 1.22 % change on previous year | -165.5% |
| 2019 | -2.68 % change on previous year | -319.5% |
| 2020 | -1.1 % change on previous year | -58.9% |
| 2021 | 0.8345 % change on previous year | -175.8% |
| 2022 | -0.9655 % change on previous year | -215.7% |
| 2023 | -0.8357 % change on previous year | -13.4% |
| 2024 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -469.8% |
| 2025 | 1.23 % change on previous year | -60.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1910s | 3.98 % change on previous year | -0.4444 % change on previous year | 20.97 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.0891 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 0.4464 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.3947 % change on previous year | -0.4255 % change on previous year | 2.16 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.5 % change on previous year | -10.39 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.3013 % change on previous year | -1.51 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.57 % change on previous year | -16.23 % change on previous year | 4.38 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.1829 % change on previous year | -1.23 % change on previous year | 0.6098 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.51 % change on previous year | -1.12 % change on previous year | 10 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.17 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 67.6 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9069 % change on previous year | -0.5135 % change on previous year | 4.8 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.6309 % change on previous year | -2.68 % change on previous year | 1.22 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3748 % change on previous year | -1.1 % change on previous year | 3.09 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 34 Namibia 1.44 % change on previous year compare
- 35 Türkiye 1.38 % change on previous year compare
- 36 Lesotho 1.38 % change on previous year compare
- 38 Nigeria 1.2 % change on previous year compare
- 39 Solomon Islands 1.16 % change on previous year compare
- 40 Netherlands 1.09 % change on previous year compare
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Key features of democracy, annual growth rate in South Africa was 1.23 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest key features of democracy, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 67.6 % change on previous year in 1995.
- What is the lowest key features of democracy, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.23 % change on previous year in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for key features of democracy, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of democracy, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 409.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Key features of democracy, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 125 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Key features of democracy. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Key features of democracy V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Key features of democracy. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.