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Cost of moneySouth Africa

Inflation rate in South Africa

How fast are prices rising where I live — or where I might?

South Africa's inflation rate is 3.21 % — #43 of 126 countries on the atlas (closer to 2 % is better). Period 2025.

3.21%

Checked 22 Sept 2026Period 2025

Source: Annual CPI inflation (shared satsatlas data engine: World Bank + Eurostat + SSB)

At 3.2 % a year, prices double in about 22 years if it holds.

Inflation rate in South Africa over time

9.91 %4.61 %-0.69 %2 % target9.91 % · 2008-0.69 % · 20042000: 5.34 %2001: 5.70 %2002: 9.49 %2003: 5.68 %2004: -0.69 %2005: 2.06 %2006: 3.24 %2007: 6.18 %2008: 9.91 %2009: 7.24 %2010: 4.07 %2011: 5.00 %2012: 5.74 %2013: 5.78 %2014: 6.13 %2015: 4.52 %2016: 6.60 %2017: 5.19 %2018: 4.51 %2019: 4.10 %2020: 3.23 %2021: 4.62 %2022: 7.04 %2023: 6.08 %2024: 4.36 %2025: 3.21 %2000201220253.21 %
26 official observations, 2000 → 2025. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#43 of 126
closer to 2 % is better
Ranked behind
66 %
83 of 126 countries
Latest move
▼ 1.15 pp
since 2024
Below its peak
6.70 pp
peak 9.91 % in 2008
Full series
▼ 2.13 pp
since 2000

In Africa: #4 of 21vs median 3.12 %: +0.09 pp (worse)

The doubling clock

At South Africa's current 3.21 % — prices double in~22 yrsAt the ~2 % target — prices double in~35 yrs
Exact compounding (ln 2 ÷ ln(1 + rate)), not the rule-of-72 shortcut — and an if-it-holds projection, not a forecast: the clock is reset by every new inflation reading. The target line is the context — most central banks aim near 2 %, where prices double about once a working life.

Among 126 countries

22 of 126 countries between -0.30 % and 1.11 %33 of 126 countries between 1.11 % and 2.52 %30 of 126 countries between 2.52 % and 3.93 %13 of 126 countries between 3.93 % and 5.34 %3 of 126 countries between 5.34 % and 6.75 %3 of 126 countries between 6.75 % and 8.16 %5 of 126 countries between 8.16 % and 9.57 %1 of 126 countries between 10.98 % and 12.39 %2 of 126 countries between 12.39 % and 13.80 %4 of 126 countries between 13.80 % and 15.21 %2 of 126 countries between 19.45 % and 20.86 %1 of 126 countries between 20.86 % and 22.27 %1 of 126 countries between 22.27 % and 23.68 %2 of 126 countries between 27.91 % and 29.32 %4 of 126 countries between 32.14 % and 33.55 %median 3.06 %South Africa: ahead of 66 % of the 126 countries with a published inflationSouth Africa 3.21 %-0.30 %33.55 %
Half of all 126 countries sit between 1.66 % and 4.65 %. South Africa is ahead of 66 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryInflationvs South Africa
41 Japan3.17 %−0.04 pp
42 United Arab Emirates1.25 %−1.96 pp
43 South Africa3.21 %—
44 Netherlands3.26 %+0.05 pp
45 Armenia3.31 %+0.10 pp

Annual CPI inflation from official statistics (World Bank, Eurostat, SSB). Ranked and coloured by distance from the ~2 % target most central banks aim for — deflation is not "winning".

How to read this figure

Annual change in the consumer price index — how much more the same basket costs than a year ago. Derived from official index levels (World Bank collection); one number for the whole country, so your personal basket may run hotter or colder. Ranked and coloured by distance from the ~2 % target most central banks aim for: deflation is a warning sign, not a win, so the greenest countries sit NEAR the target — not at the lowest number.

Next, about South Africa

Money's valuePrice levelReal policy rate
Inflation rate, all countries ranked →Compare South Africa with another country →Everything about South Africa →
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