South Africa is losing the race to get rich.
The latest Economic Freedom of the World 2026 Annual Report ranks South Africa 87th out of 165 countries and territories, continuing a long-term decline from the country’s economic-freedom peak around the year 2000. While South Africa’s absolute score improved slightly, other countries are moving faster, raising an uncomfortable question: why is South Africa falling behind in the global race for prosperity, investment and jobs?
In this episode of the Rational Standard Podcast, host Nicholas Woode-Smith is joined by David Ansara, CEO of the Free Market Foundation, and Dr Martin van Staden, the FMF’s Head of Policy, to discuss what South Africa’s economic freedom ranking actually tells us about the country’s future.
They unpack the policies holding South Africa back, from weak property rights and heavy regulation to government spending, labour-market restrictions and barriers to
Learn more about the Economic Freedom of the World 2026 Annual Report:
https://libertyfirst.co.za