South Africa vs Nigeria GDP, 1960 to 2025
South Africa had $427.18 billion in GDP in 2025, versus $290.79 billion for Nigeria. Compare World Bank annual data.
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What the data shows
- South Africa: $8.75B in 1960, $427.18B in 2025 (49× higher). It peaked at $458.20B in 2011.
- Nigeria: $4.20B in 1960, $290.79B in 2025 (69× higher). It peaked at $668.22B in 2019.
About this chart
2024 marks the latest change of leader in this annual GDP comparison: South Africa moves ahead. By 2025, South Africa records $427.18 billion, compared with $290.79 billion for Nigeria. The 2025 gap is $136.39 billion, and the larger total is about 1.47 times the smaller one. This compares the size of the two economies, not income per resident.
At the start of the common series in 1960, South Africa recorded $8.75 billion and Nigeria recorded $4.20 billion. The World Bank reports these totals in current US dollars. Inflation and exchange rates can change this comparison, so a rising dollar total does not by itself establish real economic growth. A purchasing-power or per-person comparison would answer a different question.
The data
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Nominal GDP in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation or differences in purchasing power.
| Date | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇳🇬 Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | $8.75B | $4.20B |
| 1961 | $9.23B | $4.47B |
| 1962 | $9.81B | $4.91B |
| 1963 | $10.85B | $5.17B |
| 1964 | $11.96B | $5.55B |
| 1965 | $13.07B | $5.87B |
| 1966 | $14.21B | $6.37B |
| 1967 | $15.82B | $5.20B |
| 1968 | $17.12B | $5.20B |
| 1969 | $19.26B | $6.63B |
| 1970 | $21.22B | $12.55B |
| 1971 | $23.41B | $9.18B |
| 1972 | $24.52B | $12.27B |
| 1973 | $33.26B | $15.16B |
| 1974 | $41.39B | $24.85B |
| 1975 | $42.91B | $27.78B |
| 1976 | $41.15B | $36.31B |
| 1977 | $45.33B | $36.04B |
| 1978 | $51.61B | $36.53B |
| 1979 | $63.04B | $47.26B |
| 1980 | $89.41B | $64.20B |
| 1981 | $93.14B | $164.48B |
| 1982 | $85.90B | $142.77B |
| 1983 | $96.20B | $97.09B |
| 1984 | $84.87B | $73.48B |
| 1985 | $64.46B | $73.75B |
| 1986 | $73.35B | $54.81B |
| 1987 | $96.54B | $52.68B |
| 1988 | $103.98B | $49.65B |
| 1989 | $108.06B | $44.00B |
| 1990 | $126.05B | $54.04B |
| 1991 | $135.20B | $59.53B |
| 1992 | $146.96B | $52.06B |
| 1993 | $147.19B | $56.72B |
| 1994 | $153.51B | $80.40B |
| 1995 | $171.74B | $140.92B |
| 1996 | $163.23B | $185.73B |
| 1997 | $168.98B | $200.85B |
| 1998 | $152.98B | $218.42B |
| 1999 | $151.52B | $59.15B |
| 2000 | $151.75B | $69.17B |
| 2001 | $135.43B | $73.56B |
| 2002 | $129.09B | $95.05B |
| 2003 | $197.02B | $104.74B |
| 2004 | $255.81B | $135.76B |
| 2005 | $288.87B | $175.67B |
| 2006 | $303.86B | $238.45B |
| 2007 | $333.08B | $278.26B |
| 2008 | $316.13B | $339.48B |
| 2009 | $329.75B | $295.01B |
| 2010 | $417.36B | $366.99B |
| 2011 | $458.20B | $414.47B |
| 2012 | $434.40B | $463.97B |
| 2013 | $400.89B | $520.12B |
| 2014 | $381.20B | $574.18B |
| 2015 | $346.71B | $493.03B |
| 2016 | $323.59B | $404.65B |
| 2017 | $381.45B | $375.75B |
| 2018 | $405.26B | $421.74B |
| 2019 | $389.33B | $668.22B |
| 2020 | $337.97B | $598.59B |
| 2021 | $419.99B | $609.15B |
| 2022 | $407.60B | $646.95B |
| 2023 | $381.44B | $487.39B |
| 2024 | $401.14B | $252.26B |
| 2025 | $427.18B | $290.79B |
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Frequently asked questions
Which economy is larger, South Africa or Nigeria?
South Africa has the larger GDP in 2025: $427.18 billion, compared with $290.79 billion for Nigeria. These are World Bank nominal GDP totals in current US dollars.
How large is the GDP gap?
The 2025 gap is about $136.39 billion. South Africa has approximately 1.47 times the GDP of Nigeria, using the same year and currency basis.
When did South Africa have its highest GDP in this series?
South Africa reaches its highest current-dollar GDP in the displayed series in 2011, at $458.20 billion. This is a nominal dollar peak, not necessarily a peak in inflation-adjusted output.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Nominal GDP in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation or differences in purchasing power. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
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Related data
All money chartsSouth Africa's population
South Africa: 63.21M in 2023; UN projects 94.31M in 2100. The 1950 estimate was 13.04M. Future values follow the medium scenario.
South Africa's GDP
South Africa GDP: $458.2B in 2011, versus $427.2B in 2025. World Bank totals in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation.
South Africa: life expectancy
South Africa: 66.3 years in 2024. Life expectancy peaked at 66.3 years in 2024 in this 1990–2024 series.
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