Economy
Nominal GDP
USD 403 billion
GDP per capita
USD 6,452
2021–2025 average
Currency
- Name
- South African rand
Южноафриканский рэнд - ISO code
- ZAR
- Rate against the US dollar
- USD 1 = 16.44 ZAR
- Rate against the rouble
- 10 ZAR = 51.0467 RUB
- Rate type
- Official Bank of Russia rate
- Currency zone
- National currency
Exchange rate as of 1 October 2026
Economic structure
GDP structure: 2021–2025 average Source: Based on World Bank data. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Agriculture 2.6%
- Industry 24.6%
- Services 62.8%
Industries and programmes
- Key industries
- Mining (platinum group metals, gold, coal, iron ore, manganese), automotive manufacturing, financial services, agriculture, and chemicals.
- Government programmes
- National Development Plan 2030
- Medium-Term Development Plan 2024–2029
- Just Energy Transition Program
International trade
Exports of goods, 2021–2025
USD billion Source: World Bank / WTO, merchandise exports (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT). Period: 2021–2025
Table
| Year | USD billion | index, 2021 = 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 124 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 123 | 99.2 |
| 2023 | 111 | 89.5 |
| 2024 | 110 | 88.7 |
| 2025 | 116 | 93.5 |
- Imports of goods
- USD 104 billion 2021–2025 averageSource: ITC. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Exports of goods and services
- USD 134 billion 2025Source: World Bank, national accounts. Period: 2025
- Change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −6.5%
- Average annual rate of change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −1.7%
Export specialisation
Main export products
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Main export destinations
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Investment areas
- Platinum group metals and hydrogen technologies
- Energy
- Automotive manufacturing
- Agribusiness
- Financial services
- ICT
Agreements with Russia
Investment protection
Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments: signed 23 November 1998; in force since 12 April 2000
In force
Double taxation
Agreement (Convention) on the avoidance of double taxation: signed 27 November 1995; in force since 26 June 2000
In force
Visa requirements
For Russian citizens holding ordinary passports: visa-free for up to 90 days — protocol of 2017 (exchange of notes)
Visa-free
Peaceful nuclear energy
- intergovernmental agreement on a strategic partnership in nuclear energy (2014)
Intergovernmental agreement
Other agreements
- Protocol on the Mutual Waiver of Visa Requirements (2017): visa-free entry for up to 90 days.
- Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (1993).
Incentives
- Main regimes and incentives
Section 12I tax allowance for industrial projects, SEZ regimes (corporate income tax of 15%), and investment programs of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
- Type of measure
- Administering organisation
- InvestSA — division of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)
