South Africa’s economy strengthened in the first quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth rising to 1.9% year-on-year, up from 0.8% in the same period a year earlier. The latest figures, updated on 09 June 2026, signal a marked acceleration in economic activity compared with the previous year’s first-quarter performance.
The year-on-year comparison shows that the pace of expansion has more than doubled, suggesting improving momentum across key sectors of the economy. The data indicate that, while growth remains moderate, the upward shift from 0.8% to 1.9% in the space of a year may be an early sign of a more sustained recovery, provided underlying conditions remain supportive.
