Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average in South Africa

South Africa: Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average was 16.39 in 2026. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2026)
16.39
Change on year
down 8.4%
World rank
107th
of 182 countries
All-time high
18.43
in 2023
All-time low
2.04
in 1987
Years of data
40
1987–2026

Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average in South Africa, 1987–2026

051015201987200620261987: 21988: 2.31989: 2.61990: 2.61991: 2.81992: 2.91993: 3.31994: 3.51995: 3.61996: 4.31997: 4.61998: 5.51999: 6.12000: 6.92001: 8.62002: 10.52003: 7.52004: 6.42005: 6.42006: 6.82007: 7.12008: 8.32009: 8.42010: 7.32011: 7.32012: 8.22013: 9.72014: 10.82015: 12.82016: 14.72017: 13.32018: 13.22019: 14.52020: 16.52021: 14.82022: 16.42023: 18.42024: 18.32025: 17.92026: 16.4

Source: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average in South Africa is 16.39, measured in 2026.

The figure is down 8.4% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average in South Africa peaked at 18.43 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.04, in 1987.

South Africa ranks 107th of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average in South Africa, 1987 to 2026.
Year Value Change
1987 2.04 —
1988 2.28 +11.6%
1989 2.62 +15.2%
1990 2.59 -1.3%
1991 2.76 +6.6%
1992 2.85 +3.4%
1993 3.27 +14.6%
1994 3.55 +8.5%
1995 3.63 +2.2%
1996 4.3 +18.5%
1997 4.61 +7.2%
1998 5.53 +20.0%
1999 6.11 +10.6%
2000 6.94 +13.6%
2001 8.62 +24.1%
2002 10.5 +21.9%
2003 7.55 -28.1%
2004 6.44 -14.7%
2005 6.36 -1.2%
2006 6.77 +6.3%
2007 7.05 +4.2%
2008 8.27 +17.3%
2009 8.42 +1.8%
2010 7.32 -13.0%
2011 7.26 -0.8%
2012 8.21 +13.0%
2013 9.65 +17.6%
2014 10.85 +12.4%
2015 12.77 +17.7%
2016 14.71 +15.2%
2017 13.31 -9.5%
2018 13.25 -0.5%
2019 14.45 +9.1%
2020 16.48 +14.0%
2021 14.78 -10.3%
2022 16.37 +10.8%
2023 18.43 +12.6%
2024 18.33 -0.5%
2025 17.89 -2.4%
2026 16.39 -8.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 16.39 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.42, 94% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 16.39 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 563.92, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.31 2.04 2.62 3
1990s 3.92 2.59 6.11 10
2000s 7.69 6.36 10.5 10
2010s 11.18 7.26 14.71 10
2020s 16.95 14.78 18.43 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 104 Namibia 16.39 compare
  2. 105 Lesotho 16.39 compare
  3. 106 Eswatini 16.39 compare
  4. 108 Maldives 15.35 compare
  5. 109 Eritrea 15.07 compare
  6. 110 Seychelles 14.24 compare

See the full ranking of 182 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average in South Africa?
Exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average in South Africa was 16.39 in 2026, according to World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.
What is the highest exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18.43 in 2023.
What is the lowest exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.04 in 1987.
How does South Africa rank for exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average?
South Africa ranks 107th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
Is exchange rate, old lcu per usd extended forward, period average rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data, published as part of Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/exchange-rate-old-lcu-per-usd-extended-forward-period-average/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average
Source
World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
182 places, 7,081 data points, 1987–2026
Last refreshed

Local currency units (LCU) per U.S. dollar, with values after a new currency's introduction presented in the old currency's terms