South Africa’s economic growth lost momentum in the final quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by 0.8% year-on-year, down notably from a previously recorded 2.1% in the same period. The latest figures, updated on 10 March 2026, underscore a marked cooling in the country’s growth trajectory as the year drew to a close.
Both the current and prior readings refer to the fourth quarter of 2025 on a year-over-year basis, comparing economic output to the same quarter a year earlier. The decline from 2.1% to 0.8% suggests that South Africa’s economy was growing, but at a significantly slower pace than previously estimated, signaling increased headwinds for policymakers and investors monitoring the country’s growth outlook.
