And $100 in South Africa buys what $114 buys in China. Prices across China's economy average 114% of South Africa's, so a dollar goes 14% further in South Africa.
World Bank figures for 2025 unless another year is shown
Measure
China
South Africa
Economy
Population
1.41 billion
64.7 million
GDPUS dollars, market exchange rates
$19.5 trillion
$427 billion
GDP per personUS dollars
$13,862
$6,598
GDP per person at PPPInternational dollars
$29,333
$15,906
Prices
Price levelUS prices = 100%
47%
41%
A US dollar goes as far as
$2.12 in the US
$2.41 in the US
Income
Median income or consumptionPer person, international dollars
$13.45 a day2022 survey · $4,909 a year · consumption
$6.56 a day2022 survey · $2,394 a year · consumption
More figures: GDP at PPP, conversion factor and GNI▾
Gross national income is what residents earn, at home and abroad
Measure
China
South Africa
GDP at PPPInternational dollars
$41.3 trillion
$1.03 trillion
PPP conversion factorLocal currency per international dollar
3.398Chinese yuan
7.420South African rand
GNI per person, Atlas methodUS dollars
$14,230
$6,270
GNI per person at PPPInternational dollars
$29,160
$15,600
World Bank income groups: China, upper middle income; South Africa, upper middle income.
GDP per person at PPP· 2000 to 2025, in constant 2021 international dollarsAdjusted for inflation, so recent years read lower than the current-dollar figures above.