PredictonomyPredictonomy
Home
Countries
Indicators
Sectors
Sentiment
Studios
Briefings
Methodology
Sign in
PredictonomyPredictonomy

Live macro and micro economic signals, historical context and probabilistic forecasts — built to surface trends before they become consensus.

Research and information only. Not investment advice. Forecasts are probabilistic and uncertain.

Explore

  • Home
  • Countries
  • Indicators
  • Sectors
  • Sentiment
  • Studios
  • Briefings
  • Methodology
  • Global dashboard
  • Signals

Company

  • Pricing
  • Developers
  • Data status
  • About
  • Legal
World/Briefs/South Africa

Intelligence brief

South Africa — intelligence brief

The whole picture in one grounded read: observed macro indicators, the derived macro-sentiment composite, the business-cycle regime, and a forward forecast. Derived reads interpret already-observed numbers; the forecast is labelled projections (not observations); an absent series is shown honestly, never fabricated.

How to read this:Observeda real measured value from a named source.Derivedcomputed by Predictonomy from observed series using a reproducible method.AI readan AI interpretation of already-computed figures. Opinion, not a new data point.

Brief

What the data says

Observed macro, derived sentiment, the business-cycle regime, and forward projections — each traced to the live series it reads. Need it as JSON? GET /api/v1/brief/country/{iso3}.

Full briefledger 60ad23b

South Africa: macro conditions look cautious (pressure 65/100); the economy is in slowdown; 2 turning-point signals flagged; 20 observed macro indicators held; real gdp growth is projected at 0.94 for 2027.

Macro sentiment

Macro pressure

Derived
Elevated
65/ 100

Higher = more macro pressure. Reads as cautious (sentiment -0.30, −1 stressed … +1 supportive).

ⓘ How this score works
Confidence: 90%

Outlook 2027: cautious (projected sentiment -0.20) · a projection from baseline forecasts

Business-cycle regime

DerivedRegime inputsas of 2026

Slowdown

growth 1.0%momentum -0.11confidence: high
Turning-point signals
  • Real GDP growth turned down (was rising, now falling).
  • CPI inflation turned up (was falling, now rising).

Latest observations

Observed1 indicator omitted (not covered)

as of 2026-03-01

Consumer confidence indexObservedStale
99.3

OECD SDMX API

as of 2026-01-01

Current account balance to GDPObserved
-0.9%

IMF DataMapper API

as of 2023-01-01

Electric power consumption per capitaObserved
3.2k

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2023-01-01

Net energy importsObserved
-12.5%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2023-01-01

Energy use per capitaObserved
1.9k

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Exports of goods and servicesObserved
31.4%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Gross domestic product, current US dollarsObserved
$427.2bn

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

GDP per capita, current US dollarsObserved
$6.6k

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Real GDP growthObserved
1.1%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2026-01-01

General government debt to GDPObserved
78.9%

IMF DataMapper API

as of 2025-01-01

Imports of goods and servicesObserved
29.5%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Consumer price inflationObserved
3.2%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Gross fixed capital formation to GDPObserved
13.9%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Total populationObserved
64.7m

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Productivity growthObserved
-0.1%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2021-01-01

Renewable energy shareObserved
9.7%

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Total reserves (excluding gold)Observed
$58.4bn

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Reserves in months of importsObserved
6

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Total reserves (including gold)Observed
$76bn

World Bank Indicators API

as of 2025-01-01

Unemployment rateObserved
32.4%

World Bank Indicators API

Forward forecast

Derivedprojections, not observations

Headline reliability: below naive track record (-7% skill vs naive; realized ±4.2316 over 20) · a track record, not a guarantee

Forecast heldDerivedledger 60ad23b
Real GDP growth — 2027 baseline projection
0.94

South Africa: forward projections across 15 macro indicators, horizons 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2035, 2036. These are projections, not observations — each carries an optimistic/pessimistic band and a confidence interval, anchored against the latest observed value where one is held.

Current account balance to GDP

Latest observed-0.9(2026)· IMF DataMapper API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
2027-1.073.65-5.8-2.05 – -0.09
2029-1.426.76-9.6-3.16 – 0.32
2031-1.778.79-12.33-4.07 – 0.53
2036-2.6412.3-17.57-6.11 – 0.83

Method: linear_trend; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Exports of goods and services

Latest observed31.41(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202632.2435.729.2431.23 – 33.25
202833.939.8928.7131.39 – 36.41
203035.5643.2928.8631.52 – 39.6
203539.7150.6530.2331.47 – 47.95

Method: linear_trend; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Gross domestic product, current US dollars

Latest observed427.2bn(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
2027499.5bn589.6bn421.5bn480.8bn – 518.3bn
2029547.6bn703.7bn412.4bn502.8bn – 592.5bn
2031595.7bn797.2bn421.2bn524.1bn – 667.4bn
2036716bn1T469.1bn567.5bn – 864.5bn

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Real GDP growth

Latest observed1.11(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
20270.943.4-1.190.52 – 1.37
20290.745-2.95-0.01 – 1.5
20310.556.05-4.22-0.45 – 1.54
20360.057.83-6.69-1.4 – 1.51

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 6y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

GDP per capita, current US dollars

Latest observed6.6k(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
20277.8k9.3k6.4k7.5k – 8.1k
20298.4k11k6.1k7.7k – 9.1k
20319.1k12.4k6.1k7.9k – 10.2k
203610.7k15.5k6.5k8.4k – 12.9k

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

General government debt to GDP

Latest observed78.9(2026)· IMF DataMapper API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202782.488.9374.8679.84 – 84.95
202989.39100.776.3382.77 – 96
203196.38110.9879.5285.43 – 107.32
2036113.85134.5190.0190.23 – 137.47

Method: linear_trend; lookback 10y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Imports of goods and services

Latest observed29.5(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202630.336.2324.3828.91 – 31.7
202831.9142.1721.6628.81 – 35.01
203033.5246.7620.2828.81 – 38.23
203537.5456.2718.8228.67 – 46.41

Method: linear_trend; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Consumer price inflation

Latest observed3.21(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
20274.337.41.043.58 – 5.08
20295.310.62-0.43.87 – 6.74
20316.2713.14-1.084.25 – 8.3
20368.7118.42-1.75.16 – 12.25

Method: exponential_smoothing; lookback 6y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Gross fixed capital formation to GDP

Latest observed13.88(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202613.7715.5712.213.29 – 14.25
202813.4716.5910.7612.37 – 14.56
203013.1717.29.6711.54 – 14.8
203512.4118.127.469.61 – 15.21

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Total population

Latest observed64.7m(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202763.6m66.6m60.8m61.6m – 65.6m
202962.8m65.7m60m58.1m – 67.4m
203161.9m64.8m59.2m54.9m – 68.9m
203659.8m62.9m56.8m47.4m – 72.2m

Method: exponential_smoothing; lookback 10y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Productivity growth

Latest observed-0.12(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
20260.3412.09-8.47-1.15 – 1.82
20281.2815-10-1.33 – 3.88
20302.2115-10-1.25 – 5.68
20354.5615-10-0.81 – 9.94

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 7y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Total reserves (excluding gold)

Latest observed58.4bn(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202659.6bn62.8bn56.4bn57.8bn – 61.5bn
202862.9bn68.4bn57.3bn58.2bn – 67.5bn
203066.1bn73.3bn58.9bn58.6bn – 73.6bn
203574.2bn84.4bn64.1bn58.8bn – 89.6bn

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Reserves in months of imports

Latest observed6.22(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
20266.037.744.315.67 – 6.39
20285.88.772.825.06 – 6.53
20305.689.521.844.64 – 6.72
20355.5911.020.163.86 – 7.31

Method: mean_reversion; lookback 10y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Total reserves (including gold)

Latest observed76bn(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202679.2bn85.3bn73.2bn76.8bn – 81.7bn
202887.5bn98bn77bn81bn – 94bn
203095.8bn109.3bn82.3bn84.9bn – 106.7bn
2035116.5bn135.6bn97.4bn92.3bn – 140.7bn

Method: weighted_composite; lookback 8y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Unemployment rate

Latest observed32.39(2025)· World Bank Indicators API

YearBaselineOptimisticPessimisticConf. band
202732.2133.7930.6431.22 – 33.21
202931.6433.5129.7729.3 – 33.99
203131.0733.4928.6627.55 – 34.6
203629.6533.0626.2323.5 – 35.8

Method: linear_trend; lookback 6y; horizon 1y; confidence 80%

Generated by the prediction engine (model prediction-engine-v1) on 2026-08-04 from observed history. Projections, not observations — never a guarantee of future values.

Machine-readable: GET /api/v1/brief/country/ZAF · API docs