Economics: Overview

Durban is the powerhouse of KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) provincial economy--the DMA accounts for 45% of the total GGP of KZN. Nationally the DMA accounts for 6% of South Africa's total GDP.

Durban's economy has come a long way since the days of colonial-era extraction. Although the city owes its existence to the development of the port, it has greatly diversified its economy in the post-colonial era. Today the primary industries of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining account for less than 2% of the Gross Geographical Product of the DMA. The heavy hitters of Durban's modern economy are Manufacturing, which accounts for over 25% of the GGP, Finance, which accounts for 21% of the GGP, and Tourism and Commerce, which account for 18%of the GGP.