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R

South African Rand

ZAR · South Africa

36
Moderate
Risk
Historical Scores
313743Jul 2021Jul 2025Oct 2026
What does this mean for you?

The South African Rand is in decent shape overall, scoring 36 out of 100. There are some areas to watch, but no immediate danger. Your money is holding its value reasonably well compared to most currencies.

You only need about 4.7%/yr to stay ahead. A basic savings account is enough. Calculator ↓

Inflation
3.2%
Debt / GDP
82.8%
GDP Growth
1.1%
FX Volatility
11.9
Governance
-0.1
Reserves
6.2 mo
Analysis
What's working well
Prices are stable — your money holds its value well
Healthy foreign currency reserves as a safety net
What to watch out for
No major concerns
Full South Africa analysis →

Savings Impact Calculator

R
Holding cash in ZAR3.2% inflation
R854−R146 (15% purchasing power lost)
Your R1,000 buys 15% less in 5 years
What if you invested R1,000 instead? (5yr, in ZAR terms)
Hold USD Cash
R868
−R132
-2.8%/yr net in ZAR
S&P 500
R1626
+R626
range: R742–R3202
10% USD return + 0.2% FX · ±16% vol
Gold
R1483
+R483
range: R423–R4039
8% USD return + 0.2% FX · ±24% vol
Bitcoin
R3077
+R2077
range: R183–R18.5k
25% USD return + 0.2% FX · ±54% vol

All values in ZAR. USD-denominated assets (S&P 500, Gold, Bitcoin) include an estimated FX gain of ~0.2%/yr based on the inflation differential between South Africa (3.2%) and the US (~3%). This uses purchasing power parity as a long-run approximation — actual FX movements can differ significantly in the short term. S&P 500 based on 1957-2024, Gold on 2000-2024, Bitcoin on 2015-2024. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.

Holding other assets too? Calculate your full portfolio risk →
This score is based on our 12-factor risk model. Think inflation or debt should matter more? Build your own model with custom weights and see how ZAR ranks differently.
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