Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in South Africa

South Africa: Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average was 16.32 in 2026. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2026)
16.32
Change on year
down 8.8%
Rank
109th
of 193 groups
All-time high
18.43
in 2023
All-time low
2.04
in 1987
Years of data
40
1987–2026

Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, 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: 16.3

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in South Africa is 16.32, measured in 2026.

The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.

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

That places South Africa 109th out of 193 groups with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

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 16.94 14.78 18.43 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 106 Moldova 17.1 compare
  2. 107 Lesotho 16.32 compare
  3. 107 Namibia 16.32 compare
  4. 110 Eswatini 16.32 compare
  5. 111 Maldives 15.33 compare
  6. 112 Eritrea 15.07 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in South Africa?
Official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in South Africa was 16.32 in 2026, according to World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.
What is the highest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18.43 in 2023.
What is the lowest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.04 in 1987.
How does South Africa rank for official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average?
South Africa ranks 109th out of 193 groups with data for 2026.
Is official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. 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 Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, 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
194 places, 7,533 data points, 1987–2026
Last refreshed

Official exchange rate refers to the exchange rate determined by national authorities or to the rate determined in the legally sanctioned exchange market. It is calculated as an annual average based on monthly averages (local currency units relative to the U.S. dollar).