Self-reported life satisfaction vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Self-reported life satisfaction vs. GDP per capita was 5.01 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Self-reported life satisfaction vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 5.01, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 5.42 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.46, in 2015.
That places South Africa 103rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.78 | 4.46 | 5.1 | 8 |
| 2020s | 5.18 | 4.96 | 5.42 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- DEC alternative conversion factor 17.89 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 84.7% (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 516.99 billion constant LCU (2025)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 65.8% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 361.93 billion current US$ (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 6.47 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 324.56 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 2.7% (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 40.55 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 52.35 billion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 5.01 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.42 in 2023.
- What is the lowest self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.46 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 103rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-reported life satisfaction vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Self-reported life satisfaction vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.