# South Africa economic and governance rankings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-africa-economic-and-governance-rankings
> Updated: 2026-10-26T06:02:24.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

South Africa has experienced declines in international indices measuring economic freedom and governance. According to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2026 Annual Report, the nation fell to 87th place out of 165 jurisdictions, down from 83rd. The report identifies structural weaknesses including excessive government spending, which exceeds one-third of the GDP, and heavy regulation in the labor market.

In the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index, South Africa ranked 85th out of 133 countries. While the nation showed relative strengths in the ‘Robust Laws & Policies’ pillar (44th) and the ‘Attractive Marketplace’ pillar (48th), its overall score saw a slight decline.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: South Africa ranks 85th in Chandler Good Government Index

South Africa ranked 85th in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index and 87th in the Economic Freedom of the World index, showing mixed results in governance and economic liberty.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-ranks-85th-in-chandler-good-government-index

### 2026-10-06: South Africa falls to 87th in global economic freedom ranking

South Africa's economic freedom ranking has dropped to 87th in the 2026 EFW report, reflecting a long-term decline driven by high government spending and heavy regulation.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-falls-to-87th-in-global-economic-freedom-ranking

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Cite as: South Africa economic and governance rankings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-africa-economic-and-governance-rankings