Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

47.8

Political Risk Index

51.8

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

49.2

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

44.1

Operational Risk Index

45.1

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• South Africa is in Southern Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Upper middle income. (World Bank)
• Population: 64.7 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$427.1bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 1.1% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 1% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 3.2% in 2025 (estimate); projected 4.4% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Central bank policy rate: 7.25% (Oct 2026). (BIS)
• General government gross debt: 78.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -0.5% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -5.6% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 17.89 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 18.45 in 2023: 3% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 47.8 (rank 5 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 51.8 (rank 25 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 49.2 (rank 11 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 44.1 (rank 1 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 45.1 (rank 3 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: society risk (62.3, political). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 45; government effectiveness 52; political stability and absence of violence 59; rule of law 59; regulatory quality 54. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 49.2% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 32.4% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: -0.5% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 89.4% of GDP (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 10.7% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 60.9% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 2,625 published records tagged to South Africa. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 90.2% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 9.7% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 3.8% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 30.4% of merchandise exports (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows -0.5% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 10.7% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 78.4% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 179.3 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 2.8% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 5.4% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 12.3% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 24.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 63.8% of population (2025); access to electricity 90.2% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Recent developments

• South Africa : Diabetes | South Africa Diabetes Targets Remain Out of Reach As Patients Struggle to Access Care (allafrica.com, 12 Nov 2026) (GDELT)
• South Africa : Diabetes | How Inequality Is Fuelling South Africa Diabetes Crisis (allafrica.com, 12 Nov 2026) (GDELT)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Victory Park Capital invests USD 100 million in Yoco’s operations in South Africa
• Sanlam posts scheme circular to acquire the Santam minorities for c. R21.2bn, South Africa
• Omnia shareholders approve R21.83bn take-private by India’s Solar Industries, South Africa
• Kholosani-led consortium offers R10.06 a share to take Mahube Infrastructure private, South Africa
• Finbond acquires Rigel Park for R55.5m, South Africa
• 4DX Ventures, British International Investment (BII) and partners invest USD 6 million in Enza

Meridian articles

• Courts, not registries, are setting Africa’s IP agenda: Meridian IP Intelligence, October 2026
• Fasken rehires banking partner Bontle Bopape from Nedbank as Deneys adds four lawyers in South Africa
• The London corridor: African firms are hiring English-law capacity instead of renting it
• FCCPC clears MTN’s takeover of IHS Towers on condition of a 30% local sell-down in IHS Nigeria
• Data centres are becoming Africa’s fastest-emerging M&A vertical, and the legal work is different
• Five counsel, three continents, one transaction: the Canal+ / MultiChoice panel is the new normal