South Africa has climbed 10 places in the latest global economic rankings, moving to 54th out of 70 economies surveyed in the 2026 World Competitiveness Yearbook.
The annual study, conducted by the Institute for Management Development in collaboration with Productivity South Africa, notes that the jump from last year’s 64th position reflects strong progress in government efficiency, business confidence and infrastructure management.
The study grades 70 different countries on how good they create a stable, thriving environment for businesses to grow and for citizens to live well.
Statistician at Productivity South Africa Juliet Mashabela says the country is outperforming most of its emerging market peers.
“South Africa ranked 54th out of 70 countries, which is an improvement from 64th position in 2025, meaning South Africa moved up 10 places. When looking at the compared countries in BRICS and Africa, China improved from 16th position to 12th position, while India and Brazil both dropped. In Africa, 4 out of 6 countries recorded a decline, namely Botswana, Ghana, and Namibia, while Kenya improved slightly by one place.”
About the Author
