Country Profile

  • Capital: Cape Town
  • Currency: ZAR-South African Rand (1 USD = 18.10 ZAR) (*as of 03-Dec-2024)
  • Main Language(s): Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English
  • Administration: Parliamentary Republic. The President is Chief of the State and Head of the Government.
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Geographic Location

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  • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
    Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic Area - Total ('000 Sq. Km): 1,219.10
Time Zone: UTC +02:00
Accessibility (Hours):
New York 16
London, UK 12
Dubai 10
New Delhi 12
Frankfurt 12
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Macro Indicators (2020)

Population (Millions): 59.3
GDP (US$ Billions): 301.9
Annual GDP Growth (%): -7.0
Inflation Rate (Annual %): 5.3
Unemployment (%): 29.2
Income Level: Upper Middle
ICT Service Exports (US$ Million): 711.3
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Avasant Country Risk Profile

Very High Very Low
Overall Business Risk: High
Political Risk: Very High
Economic Risk: Very High
Service Disruption Risk: High
Operations Scalability Risk (Human Resource): Very Low
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Global Business/ICT Rankings

Doing Business 2020 (190): 84
WEF Global Competitiveness 2019 (141): 60
WEF ICT Adoption 2019 (141): 89
Global Innovation Index 2021 (132): 61
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Key ICT/Digital Providers

Domestic: Axxess, Custos Media Technologies, Internet Solutions, RedPanda Software
International: Amazon Web Services, Capgemini, Cisco, Dell, IBM, Luno, Microsoft, Techno Brain
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Main Outsourcing/Digital Hubs

Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Global Equations Digital Competitiveness Profile

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  • Leader
  • Innovator
  • Challenger
  • Emerging

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Digital Competitiveness - Total Score: 55.82
55.82 100.00 Total Score : 55.82 Argentina: 63.86 Australia: 62.37 Austria: 63.84 Bahamas: 21.72 Barbados: 37.20 Belize: 26.94 Brazil: 64.40 Bulgaria: 64.10 Canada: 70.15 Chile: 67.18 China: 68.28 Colombia: 65.61 Costa Rica: 68.07 Croatia: 63.30 Czech Republic: 65.81 Denmark: 49.14 Dominican Republic: 56.19 Ecuador: 38.32 Egypt: 49.25 El Salvador: 50.09 Estonia: 71.15 Finland: 48.61 France: 63.90 Germany: 67.57 Ghana: 37.49 Grenada: 12.91 Guatemala: 50.34 Guyana: 21.82 Haiti: 33.53 Honduras: 50.55 Hungary: 66.46 Iceland: 47.97 India: 74.70 Indonesia: 43.69 Ireland: 70.18 Israel: 65.10 Jamaica: 52.28 Japan: 52.36 Jordan: 54.79 Kazakhstan: 42.86 Kenya: 38.51 Latvia: 66.11 Lithuania: 68.75 Malawi: 26.65 Malaysia: 73.81 Mauritius: 56.18 Mexico: 65.97 Morocco: 46.96 Netherlands: 66.67 New Zealand: 57.30 Norway: 47.47 Panama: 52.55 Peru: 35.97 Philippines: 63.04 Poland: 65.91 Portugal: 63.49 Qatar: 53.40 Romania: 65.21 Russia: 54.37 Rwanda: 31.95 Singapore: 65.32 Slovak Republic: 63.21 Slovenia: 63.02 South Africa: 55.82 South Korea: 52.93 Spain: 64.89 Sri Lanka: 59.92 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 11.62 Sweden: 48.26 Switzerland: 52.45 Tanzania: 31.37 Thailand: 48.49 Trinidad And Tobago: 43.69 Turkey: 51.22 Ukraine: 52.35 United Arab Emirates: 66.79 United Kingdom: 69.64 United States: 71.52 Uruguay: 62.37 Vietnam: 47.76

SUB-PILLARS

Rating
Country Score

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Digital Services Ecosystem

14.13 30.00 South Africa: 14.13 Argentina: 19.03 Australia: 19.05 Austria: 18.80 Bahamas: 6.10 Barbados: 6.18 Belize: 6.97 Brazil: 20.02 Bulgaria: 18.47 Canada: 22.67 Chile: 20.44 China: 20.97 Colombia: 20.35 Costa Rica: 21.54 Croatia: 18.31 Czech Republic: 18.82 Denmark: 13.71 Dominican Republic: 14.72 Ecuador: 6.21 Egypt: 13.98 El Salvador: 11.43 Estonia: 21.91 Finland: 13.78 France: 21.36 Germany: 23.17 Ghana: 5.83 Grenada: 2.60 Guatemala: 12.48 Guyana: 3.34 Haiti: 4.92 Honduras: 10.79 Hungary: 19.75 Iceland: 13.29 India: 24.84 Indonesia: 7.66 Ireland: 23.34 Israel: 20.67 Jamaica: 12.41 Japan: 17.91 Jordan: 14.49 Kazakhstan: 9.97 Kenya: 6.98 Latvia: 18.03 Lithuania: 19.69 Malawi: 3.43 Malaysia: 22.53 Mauritius: 13.10 Mexico: 20.44 Morocco: 9.13 Netherlands: 22.06 New Zealand: 15.83 Norway: 13.74 Panama: 12.94 Peru: 6.16 Philippines: 15.66 Poland: 19.28 Portugal: 18.03 Qatar: 14.35 Romania: 18.47 Russia: 14.89 Rwanda: 4.93 Singapore: 20.65 Slovak Republic: 18.26 Slovenia: 16.72 South Korea: 19.20 Spain: 20.98 Sri Lanka: 15.46 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 1.78 Sweden: 14.37 Switzerland: 16.18 Tanzania: 4.30 Thailand: 8.59 Trinidad And Tobago: 9.19 Turkey: 12.78 Ukraine: 13.51 United Arab Emirates: 20.21 United Kingdom: 22.73 United States: 25.34 Uruguay: 19.28 Vietnam: 10.03

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Business Environment

9.04 15.00 South Africa: 9.04 Argentina: 8.37 Australia: 11.08 Austria: 11.09 Bahamas: 2.91 Barbados: 8.45 Belize: 2.25 Brazil: 8.29 Bulgaria: 9.77 Canada: 11.49 Chile: 10.43 China: 10.42 Colombia: 8.82 Costa Rica: 8.91 Croatia: 9.14 Czech Republic: 10.31 Denmark: 11.66 Dominican Republic: 8.34 Ecuador: 8.07 Egypt: 9.03 El Salvador: 7.21 Estonia: 11.02 Finland: 12.07 France: 10.89 Germany: 11.38 Ghana: 8.99 Grenada: 2.70 Guatemala: 7.83 Guyana: 2.81 Haiti: 5.22 Honduras: 7.64 Hungary: 9.64 Iceland: 11.25 India: 9.96 Indonesia: 9.93 Ireland: 11.05 Israel: 11.30 Jamaica: 8.74 Japan: 11.10 Jordan: 10.08 Kazakhstan: 9.53 Kenya: 9.71 Latvia: 10.20 Lithuania: 10.48 Malawi: 8.06 Malaysia: 11.32 Mauritius: 10.41 Mexico: 8.64 Morocco: 9.95 Netherlands: 11.53 New Zealand: 11.89 Norway: 11.61 Panama: 9.29 Peru: 8.68 Philippines: 8.78 Poland: 9.65 Portugal: 10.28 Qatar: 10.22 Romania: 9.61 Russia: 8.87 Rwanda: 9.90 Singapore: 12.39 Slovak Republic: 9.76 Slovenia: 10.59 South Korea: 10.86 Spain: 10.50 Sri Lanka: 9.23 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 2.88 Sweden: 11.61 Switzerland: 11.43 Tanzania: 8.46 Thailand: 10.16 Trinidad And Tobago: 8.06 Turkey: 9.50 Ukraine: 8.30 United Arab Emirates: 11.86 United Kingdom: 11.66 United States: 11.65 Uruguay: 9.01 Vietnam: 9.21

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Human Capital

13.07 25.00 South Africa: 13.07 Argentina: 16.19 Australia: 16.47 Austria: 18.10 Bahamas: 6.52 Barbados: 12.26 Belize: 9.61 Brazil: 15.01 Bulgaria: 14.62 Canada: 19.28 Chile: 16.77 China: 14.89 Colombia: 16.43 Costa Rica: 17.18 Croatia: 15.88 Czech Republic: 17.18 Denmark: 10.72 Dominican Republic: 14.70 Ecuador: 9.33 Egypt: 9.82 El Salvador: 12.43 Estonia: 18.45 Finland: 11.00 France: 17.07 Germany: 17.81 Ghana: 9.50 Grenada: 5.40 Guatemala: 12.95 Guyana: 8.48 Haiti: 11.32 Honduras: 14.19 Hungary: 16.14 Iceland: 11.27 India: 17.73 Indonesia: 11.87 Ireland: 19.07 Israel: 15.78 Jamaica: 14.97 Japan: 12.80 Jordan: 12.50 Kazakhstan: 7.33 Kenya: 9.10 Latvia: 17.48 Lithuania: 17.87 Malawi: 6.18 Malaysia: 18.44 Mauritius: 14.93 Mexico: 15.75 Morocco: 11.63 Netherlands: 18.11 New Zealand: 16.00 Norway: 10.80 Panama: 13.10 Peru: 8.18 Philippines: 18.07 Poland: 16.56 Portugal: 16.82 Qatar: 13.26 Romania: 16.38 Russia: 12.69 Rwanda: 7.26 Singapore: 16.69 Slovak Republic: 16.23 Slovenia: 17.15 South Korea: 10.64 Spain: 17.48 Sri Lanka: 15.21 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 5.35 Sweden: 10.61 Switzerland: 13.54 Tanzania: 8.24 Thailand: 11.41 Trinidad And Tobago: 12.48 Turkey: 11.77 Ukraine: 12.59 United Arab Emirates: 15.72 United Kingdom: 18.74 United States: 19.28 Uruguay: 15.81 Vietnam: 10.41

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Financial Attractiveness

16.20 25.00 South Africa: 16.20 Argentina: 16.65 Australia: 11.42 Austria: 11.94 Bahamas: 5.74 Barbados: 7.39 Belize: 8.01 Brazil: 17.54 Bulgaria: 17.68 Canada: 12.17 Chile: 15.79 China: 17.83 Colombia: 16.68 Costa Rica: 17.21 Croatia: 16.33 Czech Republic: 15.61 Denmark: 8.71 Dominican Republic: 15.38 Ecuador: 11.97 Egypt: 13.11 El Salvador: 16.05 Estonia: 16.01 Finland: 7.64 France: 9.93 Germany: 10.55 Ghana: 10.55 Grenada: 1.91 Guatemala: 14.57 Guyana: 6.94 Haiti: 10.41 Honduras: 15.32 Hungary: 17.14 Iceland: 8.28 India: 18.76 Indonesia: 11.05 Ireland: 12.73 Israel: 13.39 Jamaica: 13.58 Japan: 6.21 Jordan: 14.64 Kazakhstan: 12.84 Kenya: 10.00 Latvia: 16.69 Lithuania: 17.05 Malawi: 5.54 Malaysia: 18.27 Mauritius: 14.87 Mexico: 17.41 Morocco: 13.18 Netherlands: 10.53 New Zealand: 9.60 Norway: 7.26 Panama: 14.01 Peru: 10.00 Philippines: 17.49 Poland: 16.68 Portugal: 14.22 Qatar: 11.97 Romania: 17.16 Russia: 14.04 Rwanda: 7.58 Singapore: 12.29 Slovak Republic: 15.44 Slovenia: 15.07 South Korea: 7.65 Spain: 11.56 Sri Lanka: 16.95 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 1.51 Sweden: 7.34 Switzerland: 6.87 Tanzania: 7.72 Thailand: 14.57 Trinidad And Tobago: 11.06 Turkey: 13.41 Ukraine: 14.79 United Arab Emirates: 14.82 United Kingdom: 12.02 United States: 10.65 Uruguay: 14.70 Vietnam: 14.85

Digital Competitiveness Index™ classification and scores are derived by assessing 70+ parameters across five key digital competitiveness enabling pillars – Digital Ecosystem (30), Human Capital (25), Financial Attractiveness (25), Enabling Environment (15) and Supporting Infrastructure (5). Each segment indicates an overall aggregate score based on a range of sub indicators with varying degree of relevance to overall digital ecosystem and competitiveness.

Data Sources – The assessment is based on data from range of sources including publicly available third party sources e.g. World Bank, IMF as well as data collected directly by Avasant Global Equations and its partners – Computer Economics and Strativa Consulting.

For More Details on Data Sources and Assessment Methodology

 Infrastructure

3.38 5.00 South Africa: 3.38 Argentina: 3.62 Australia: 4.35 Austria: 3.91 Bahamas: 0.45 Barbados: 2.92 Belize: 0.10 Brazil: 3.54 Bulgaria: 3.56 Canada: 4.54 Chile: 3.75 China: 4.17 Colombia: 3.33 Costa Rica: 3.23 Croatia: 3.64 Czech Republic: 3.89 Denmark: 4.34 Dominican Republic: 3.05 Ecuador: 2.74 Egypt: 3.31 El Salvador: 2.97 Estonia: 3.76 Finland: 4.12 France: 4.65 Germany: 4.66 Ghana: 2.62 Grenada: 0.30 Guatemala: 2.51 Guyana: 0.25 Haiti: 1.66 Honduras: 2.61 Hungary: 3.79 Iceland: 3.88 India: 3.41 Indonesia: 3.18 Ireland: 3.99 Israel: 3.96 Jamaica: 2.58 Japan: 4.34 Jordan: 3.08 Kazakhstan: 3.19 Kenya: 2.72 Latvia: 3.71 Lithuania: 3.66 Malawi: 3.44 Malaysia: 3.25 Mauritius: 2.87 Mexico: 3.73 Morocco: 3.07 Netherlands: 4.44 New Zealand: 3.98 Norway: 4.06 Panama: 3.21 Peru: 2.95 Philippines: 3.04 Poland: 3.74 Portugal: 4.14 Qatar: 3.60 Romania: 3.59 Russia: 3.88 Rwanda: 2.28 Singapore: 3.30 Slovak Republic: 3.52 Slovenia: 3.49 South Korea: 4.58 Spain: 4.37 Sri Lanka: 3.07 St. Vincent And the Grenadines: 0.10 Sweden: 4.33 Switzerland: 4.43 Tanzania: 2.65 Thailand: 3.76 Trinidad And Tobago: 2.90 Turkey: 3.76 Ukraine: 3.16 United Arab Emirates: 4.18 United Kingdom: 4.49 United States: 4.60 Uruguay: 3.57 Vietnam: 3.26

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