South Africa's economy by Armand

Let’s begin by reminding that in 2019 South Africa’s economy was among the most miserable economies in the world. Even though in the 80s it had a GDP world average over 120%. It was actually the 7^th worst economy, with a misery index of 32.8%; and until that day, it might not have changed. 

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the income of a country.

In south Africa the GDP growth raises to 1.30%, the inflation raises to 5.30%. There are around 60 million inhabitants in South Africa, the unemployment is quite high, close to 30% of the population do not possess a job.

More in depth concerning South Africa’s employment, the first three shares that dominates are services, trade, and finance with an employment rate around 20% to 15%, then the followings manufacturing, construction and private households have an employment rate around 10%, and finally, transport, agriculture and mining represent between 6% to 2% in the employment rate. Utilities possess a employment rate below 1%.

When it comes to agriculture In South Africa its farmed grains, livestock, grazing and some mixed farming. The industry is mostly situated in Johannesburg. Grazing and mixed farming are the most spread products all over South Africa, mostly located in the middle, in the North-West, in the South. Then grains and livestock are second most spread products in South Africa mostly in the center and in the South-East. Sugarcanes are also farmed but represent the smallest share of all products in South Africa’s agriculture. Cotton, fruits, peanuts, tobaccos, vegetables and vineyards are also farmed and scattered around the country, vineyard are mainly produced in Cape, near Cape Town. 

The mining activities are mining Diamond, Copper, Iron ore, Uranium and more, particularly in the North-East of South Africa, near Pretoria. The mining activities represent a share of 8% in South Africa’s nominal GDP.

South Africa’s population is inconsistently spread around the country, the population is mostly gathered in the North-East or South-East. Areas like KwaZulu-Natal, or Limpopo. The major cities are Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and there’s also Cape town in the South-West.

The economy of the South Africa depends on many actors like tourism, agriculture and other. But South Africa’s nominal GDP depends a lot on the government with a share of 18%, finance with a share of 20%, trade with a share of 15%, and manufacturing representing a share of 13%. And there are some other activities like agriculture contributing 3% of the GDP and mining 8%.

South Africa possess eight different areas, such as the Northern Cape in the North-West, which is the biggest area and possess a unique ecosystem, the Limpopo in the North-East, in which you can practice safaris, the Gauteng and Mpumalanga province in the center East, a city with a more mountains atmosphere, KwaZulu-Natal in the South-East, a region combing modernity and authenticity, the Western Cape in the south, where the fauna and flora is very rich and diverse, the Cape in the South-West, which contains a numerous golden beaches, and the Free state in the center, including the Lesotho just in the South of the Free state.