Key Questions
Part of the country’s economic profile, the economic structure section gives readers useful views to understand what matters to the South African economy.
KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
- What is the size of South Africa’s economy?
- What is the size of South Africa’s population?
- What is the demographic structure of South Africa? Is it favorable for economic growth?
- How has the structure of GDP changed over the years?
- How much does South Africa’s economy rely on natural resources?
- How much does South Africa’s economy rely on external trade?
- Where are the key economic regions in South Africa?
- Economic Freedom Index: How free is South Africa’s economy?
Part of the country’s economic profile, this section explores South Africa’s competitiveness at the global level. It also covers the country’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment.
KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
- How competitive is South Africa?
- How are South Africa’s competitive factors compared to those of other countries?
- How is the minimum wage in South Africa compared to others in the region?
- How has labor productivity in South Africa changed over the years, and in relation to comparable countries?
- Is it easy to do business in South Africa?
- How good is South Africa in attracting Foreign Direct Investment?
Part of the country’s economic profile, this section explores South Africa’s economic development, average income, and its distribution, poverty as well as other development indicators.
KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
- What is the level of income for an average person in South Africa?
- What is the poverty rate in South Africa, and how does it compare to others?
- How has the unemployment rate in South Africa changed over recent years?
- How is income distributed in South Africa, and how does it compare to others?
- What is the current level of human development in South Africa?
- How has the quality of life changed over the years?
- How many SDG has South Africa achieved to date?
As part of the country’s economic outlook, this section explores South Africa’s recent economic growth, its key drivers as well as the growth outlook for the coming years.
KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
- What has been the growth rate of South Africa’s economy over the past ten years, and how does it compare with others?
- What were the key growth drivers for South Africa’s economy in the last year?
- How much does each sector contribute to the overall growth?
- What is the GDP growth rate in the latest quarter?
- What are the latest signals from the leading indicators?
- What is the growth outlook for South Africa’s economy, and how does it compare with others?
As part of the country’s economic outlook, this section explores South Africa’s macro-economic risks, including inflation, financial sector, budget deficit as well as the balance of payment and exchange rate.
KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
- What have been the government measures against the Covid-19 crisis?
- What is the risk of inflation over the next 12 months?
- What is the latest move on South Africa’s monetary policy?
- What is the health of South Africa’s banking sector?
- What has been the trend in South Africa’s fiscal budget deficit?
- Balance of Payment: Where are the key risks?
- Does South Africa have enough international reserves to service its debt and for import?
- What is the FX risk? How has the currency performed compared to others?
From IMF’s World Economic Outlook Report
- GDP growth
- Inflation
- Population
- Unemployment rate
- Government budget and debt
- Current account
Detailed rankings and scores for South Africa and comparable economies.
- Starting a business
- Dealing with construction permits
- Getting electricity
- Registering property
- Getting credit
- Protecting Minority Investors
- Paying taxes
- Trading across borders
- Enforcing contracts
- Resolving Insolvency