With a population of 49 million, South Africa represents 10% of Africa's population and 45% of the continent's gross domestic product (GDP). Its GDP is almost as big as the rest of sub-Saharan Africa's 47 countries combined As the engine of growth for Africa, South Africa had been growing at 5% annually until 2008. As Africa's sole member of the G-20 group, South Africa has the 20th-largest GDP in the world and is among the top ten emerging economies.