South Africa resilience analysis
South Africa ranks #117 of 169 countries with an overall resilience score of 47.5 out of 100. Live shock exposure is the weakest pillar at 57.7, with recovery capacity next at 59.7. Structural readiness is strongest at 62.7, while Infrastructure is the lowest of the six underlying domains at 50. Across the recorded 30-day window, the index is stable at -0.6 points. Dimension coverage is 86%, and the page labels confidence as standard.
Pillar profile
- Live shock exposure: 57.7; coverage 94%; domains Infrastructure, Energy security, Health, food and water.
- Recovery capacity: 59.7; coverage 63%; domains Recovery capacity.
- Structural readiness: 62.7; coverage 93%; domains Economic capacity, Social and governance.
Six-domain profile
- Infrastructure: 50; weight 15%; low Logistics and supply chains 14; high Cyber and digital capacity 86.
- Health, food and water: 55.6; weight 13%; low Health and public services 47; high Food and water security 66.
- Social and governance: 59.6; weight 19%; low Governance and institutions 48; high Information environment 75.
- Recovery capacity: 59.7; weight 25%; low State continuity 34; high Import concentration 85.
- Economic capacity: 66; weight 17%; low Macro-fiscal position 56; high Currency and external balance 77.
- Energy security: 72; weight 11%; Energy system resilience 72.
Dimension evidence, observed scores weakest first
| Dimension | Domain | Score | Coverage | Evidence state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics and supply chains | Infrastructure | 14 | 100% | Fresh |
| State continuity | Recovery capacity | 34 | 100% | Stale |
| Health and public services | Health, food and water | 47 | 100% | Fresh |
| Liquid-reserve adequacy | Recovery capacity | 47 | 100% | Fresh |
| Governance and institutions | Social and governance | 48 | 100% | Fresh |
| Core infrastructure | Infrastructure | 50 | 100% | Fresh |
| Education capacity | Social and governance | 52 | 100% | Fresh |
| Macro-fiscal position | Economic capacity | 56 | 100% | Fresh |
| Financial-system exposure | Economic capacity | 57 | 100% | Fresh |
| Fiscal space | Recovery capacity | 57 | 100% | Fresh |
| Social cohesion | Social and governance | 57 | 92% | Stale |
| Food and water security | Health, food and water | 66 | 82% | Fresh |
| Border security | Social and governance | 69 | 100% | Stale |
| External-debt coverage | Recovery capacity | 69 | 100% | Fresh |
| Energy system resilience | Energy security | 72 | 90% | Fresh |
| Information environment | Social and governance | 75 | 55% | Fresh |
| Trade policy resilience | Economic capacity | 76 | 100% | Fresh |
| Currency and external balance | Economic capacity | 77 | 85% | Fresh |
| Import concentration | Recovery capacity | 85 | 100% | Fresh |
| Cyber and digital capacity | Infrastructure | 86 | 100% | Fresh |
| Fuel-stock buffer | Recovery capacity | — | 0% | Unavailable |
| Reserve adequacy | Recovery capacity | — | 0% | Unavailable |
| Sovereign fiscal buffer | Recovery capacity | — | 0% | Not applicable |
Comparison set
Nearest ranked peers: Ukraine (#116, 47.9), Zambia (#118, 47.3), Ecuador (#115, 48.2), Bolivia (#119, 47.2). Comparisons in sub-Saharan Africa: Zambia (#118, 47.3), Gabon (#120, 46.8), Namibia (#114, 48.3), Botswana (#121, 46.6), Comoros (#111, 48.6). Similar scores do not mean equal conditions.
Tracked crisis context
South Africa has no dedicated crisis tracker; the 18 trackers cover selected crises. That is a coverage limit, not a statement about risk.
Reading limits
Scores come from the November 1, 2026 snapshot. Top domain: Energy security, 72. Weak pillars pull the overall score down; read each score alongside its coverage and imputation.
Questions about South Africa
What is South Africa's resilience score?
South Africa scores 47.5 out of 100 in the November 1, 2026 structural snapshot and sits #117 of 169 ranked countries. This is a comparative index, not a crisis probability.
Which resilience pillars are weakest for South Africa?
Live shock exposure is lowest at 57.7, followed by Recovery capacity at 59.7. Their evidence coverage is 94% and 63%.
Is South Africa's resilience score rising or falling?
The 30-day reading is stable, with a change of -0.6 points. It is structural and separate from the live instability monitor.