South Africa vs Tunisia: Central government spending as share of GDP
South Africa
33.4%
in 2022
Tunisia
33.8%
in 2012
South Africa rank
45th
Tunisia rank
43rd
Central government spending as share of GDP over time
- South Africa
- Tunisia
How they compare
Tunisia currently reports 33.8% against 33.4% in South Africa, a difference of 0.4%.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 41 shared years of data; in 1972 it was Tunisia ahead.
South Africa ranks 45th and Tunisia ranks 43rd of 157 countries.
Tunisia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Tunisia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.5% | 24.0% | 6.5% | Tunisia |
| 1980s | 22.8% | 29.8% | 7.1% | Tunisia |
| 1990s | 26.3% | 27.5% | 1.2% | Tunisia |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 26.0% | 0.3% | Tunisia |
| 2010s | 30.3% | 31.1% | 0.8% | Tunisia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher central government spending as share of gdp, South Africa or Tunisia?
- Tunisia, at 33.8% against 33.4% in South Africa as of 2012.
- What is the difference in central government spending as share of gdp between South Africa and Tunisia?
- 0.4%, with Tunisia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Tunisia?
- 41 years are reported by both, from 1972 to 2012.
- How do South Africa and Tunisia rank globally for central government spending as share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 45th and Tunisia ranks 43rd of 157 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.