South Africa enters 2026 navigating a complex mix of structural reform, industrial capacity, infrastructure pressure, fiscal constraint, and renewed opportunities for growth. This LEAF report examines the country’s economic outlook through the lens of macro stability, manufacturing performance, investment confidence, energy resilience, and policy choices that will shape South Africa’s role in Africa’s wider growth story.
Published
Apr 2026
Format
PDF · 99 pages
Coverage
South Africa
What it found
1.3%Growth is estimated at 1.3% in 2025 and projected to remain modest at 1.4% in 2026 — below the estimated potential of 2.0–2.5%.
46.3% → 36.3%Europe's share of global exports declines from 46.3% in 2003 to about 36.3% in 2026, while China's share rises materially.
8.9% → 3.5%Global inflation is easing sharply, from 8.9% in 2022 to 4.0% in 2025 and a forecast 3.5% in 2026.
