South Africa

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for South Africa
Published: 2026

Region: Southern Africa
Capital: Pretoria
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Density: 49 / km²

WRI Score 2026

44.27

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 198th
In Africa: 47th
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Top rate 45%· KPMG / EY
10.9
Among the highest top marginal rates on this list.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 49 / km²· UN WPP
83.0
Low density relative to peers.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $6,835· IMF WEO 2026
32.1
Below-average per-capita output.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 65.3 years· WHO / UN
22.0
Among the shortest average lifespans on this list.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 0.15 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
42.1
Limited tourism infrastructure relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 32.1%· ILO / SECO
1.0
Among the highest unemployment rates on this list.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 0.8% of GDP· SIPRI
96.9
Minimal defence spending relative to output.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
26.1
Among the weakest safety and rule-of-law composites on this list.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
89.5
Low institutional ideological enforcement.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

South Africa holds 198th of 211 with a WRI Score of 44.27 — ranks among the lowest in the field. The score is driven by exceptional military posture (96.9) and ideological neutrality (89.5), with unemployment standing out as its clearest structural constraint.