South Africa PESTLE Insights – A Macroeconomic Outlook Report

Mining, manufacturing, and utilities contributed 25.0% to the gross value added (GVA) in 2025, followed by financial intermediation, real estate, and business activities (23.5%) and wholesale, retail trade, and hotels (13.7%). In nominal terms, these three sectors are expected to grow by 5.4%, 5.3%, and 5.3%, respectively, in 2026.

Johannesburg and Cape Town generated 18.7% of the country’s GDP and were home to 16.1% of the country’s population in 2025, according to MarketLine cities database.

Scope

Macroeconomic Country Outlook Reports evaluate a country's investment potential through its political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) framework. This comprehensive analysis offers a holistic view of the economy, serving as a strategic tool to understand market dynamics, business potential, and operational direction. Each PESTLE factor is examined based on four parameters: current strengths, current challenges, future prospects, and future risks. These insights support strategic planning by highlighting opportunities and risks within the economy, helping businesses and investors make informed decisions. The report aims to provide a detailed understanding of the country's macroeconomic environment to facilitate effective decision-making and strategy development.

Reasons to buy

Macroeconomic Outlook Report identifies the potentials of the country as an investment destination by analyzing the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) structure.

PESTLE Insights provides 360 degree view of the economy which can be used as a strategic tool to understand the market dynamics, business potentials and direction of operations

Along with providing the country’s snapshot, the report captures the risk factors pertaining to the macroeconomic risks, political environment, legal environment, demographic and social structure effectiveness, technology & infrastructure and natural and geographic aspects that might impact business.

This report also highlights key clusters/cities which contribute significantly to the country GDP and population along with major companies’ presence in these areas.

Companies mentioned

Caperay

African Bank

Nedbank

AEL

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

List of Exhibits

Did You Know?

Country Highlights

Key Economic Updates and Impact of US Tariffs

Country Snapshot

Political Landscape

Economic Landscape

Social Landscape

Technological Landscape

Legal Landscape

Environmental Landscape

Outlook

List of Tables

Exhibit 1: South Africa’s performance in terms of its country risk analysis in comparison to Middle East and Africa and World average

Exhibit 2: Performance overview (score: 0-100)

Exhibit 3: Broad categories and weights behind the index

Exhibit 4: South Africa TOP40 Index, (July 2022 – July 2023)

Exhibit 5: Key sectors contribution to the economy (2017–24f)

Exhibit 6: FDI inflows, FDI outflows, FDI inward stock and FDI outward stock (2018–22)

Exhibit 7: Greenfield FDI projects and net cross border M&A sales (2018–22)

Exhibit 8: Key infrastructure indicators (2020)

Exhibit 9: Real GDP and household consumption growth rate (2018–25f)

Exhibit 10: Real GDP growth rate comparison (2022)

Exhibit 11: Volume of exports and imports growth (2018–25f)

Exhibit 12: Current account balance (2018–25f)

Exhibit 13: Top three commodity exports, % of total exports (2018–22)

Exhibit 14: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, % of world total (2022)

Exhibit 15: Interest rates (July 2018 – July 2023)

Exhibit 16: Exchange rate and inflation (2018–25f)

Exhibit 17: General government deficit (2018–25f)

Exhibit 18: General government debt (2018–25f)

Exhibit 19: Unemployment rate (2018–25f)

Exhibit 20: Average annual wages (2018–25f)

Exhibit 21: Labor cost index (2018–25f)

Exhibit 22: Rural/urban share of total population (1995, 2005, 2015, 2025f)

Exhibit 23: Age-group share of total population (1995, 2005, 2015, 2025f)

Exhibit 24: Gender split (1995, 2005, 2015, 2025f)

Exhibit 25: Internet users as a percentage of total population, mobile penetration rate and broadband penetration rate (2022)

Exhibit 26: Number of patents granted per million population (2021)

Exhibit 27: High-technology exports, % of manufactured exports (2021 or latest)

Exhibit 28: Rule of law (rankings), 2022

Exhibit 29: Corruption perceptions index (rankings) (2022)

Exhibit 30: Renewable energy capacity (2017–21)

Exhibit 31: CO2 emissions (2018–22)

List of Figures

Exhibit 1: South Africa’s Performance in Terms of its Country Risk Analysis in Comparison to the Middle East And Africa And World Averages

Exhibit 2: Performance Overview (Score: 0–100)

Exhibit 3: Broad Categories and Weights Behind the Index

Exhibit 4: South Africa TOP40 Index, (March 2025 – March 2026)

Exhibit 5: Key Sectors’ Contribution to the Economy (2021–28f)

Exhibit 6: FDI Flows and FDI Stock (2020–24)

Exhibit 7: Greenfield FDI Projects and Net Cross-border M&A Deals (2020-24)

Exhibit 8: Key Infrastructure Indicators

Exhibit 9: Real GDP and Household Consumption Growth Rate (2021–28f)

Exhibit 10: Real GDP Growth Rate Comparison (2025e)

Exhibit 11: Volume of Exports and Imports Growth (2021–28f)

Exhibit 12: Current Account Balance (2021–28f)

Exhibit 13: Top Three Commodity Exports, % of Total Exports (2021–25)

Exhibit 14: Natural or Cultured Pearls, Precious or Semi-precious Stones, Precious Metals Exports, % of World Total (2024)

Exhibit 15: Interest Rates (February 2021 – February 2026)

Exhibit 16: Exchange Rate and Inflation Rate (2021–28f)

Exhibit 17: Public Finance (2021–28f)

Exhibit 18: General Government Debt (2021–28f)

Exhibit 19: Unemployment Rate (2021–28f)

Exhibit 20: Average Annual Wages (2021–28f)

Exhibit 21: Labor Cost Index (2021–28f)

Exhibit 22: Rural/Urban Share of Total Population (2020, 2025e, 2030f, 2035f)

Exhibit 23: Age-group Share of Total Population (2020, 2025e, 2030f, 2035f)

Exhibit 24: Gender Split (2020, 2025e, 2030f, 2035f)

Exhibit 25: Internet Users as a Percentage of Total Population, Mobile Penetration Rate and Broadband Penetration Rate (2025e)

Exhibit 26: Number of Patents Granted Per Million Population (2024)

Exhibit 27: High-technology Exports, % of Manufactured Exports (2024 or Latest)

Exhibit 28: Rule of Law (Rankings) 2025

Exhibit 29: Corruption Perceptions Index (Rankings) 2025

Exhibit 30: Renewable Electricity, Installed Capacity (2021–25e)

Exhibit 31: Co2e Emissions (2020–24)

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