Adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa
South Africa: Adjusted savings: gross savings was 16.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa, 1970–2021
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa is 16.5%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 13.9% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa peaked at 33.3% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 128th of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.7% | — |
| 1971 | 27.1% | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 27.9% | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 31.3% | +12.3% |
| 1974 | 33.3% | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 27.5% | -17.3% |
| 1976 | 26.7% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 27.0% | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 27.5% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 28.9% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 31.3% | +8.5% |
| 1981 | 27.4% | -12.6% |
| 1982 | 24.2% | -11.6% |
| 1983 | 23.2% | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 22.0% | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 22.1% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 20.8% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 18.9% | -9.2% |
| 1988 | 18.9% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 19.6% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 15.0% | -23.2% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 15.1% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 16.1% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 17.0% | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 16.0% | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 15.1% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 15.2% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | +20.8% |
| 2003 | 18.8% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 17.7% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 13.8% | -16.0% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 14.5% | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | +13.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.6% | 26.7% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.8% | 18.9% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 14.7% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 15.2% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 13.6% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 14.5% | 16.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 125 Zimbabwe 16.8% compare
- 126 Costa Rica 16.8% compare
- 127 Kenya 16.7% compare
- 129 Fiji 16.4% compare
- 130 Republic of Moldova 16.4% compare
- 131 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 16.0% compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa?
- Adjusted savings: gross savings in South Africa was 16.5% in 2021, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest adjusted savings: gross savings recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 1974.
- What is the lowest adjusted savings: gross savings recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for adjusted savings: gross savings?
- South Africa ranks 128th out of 178 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adjusted savings: gross savings rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Adjusted savings: gross savings (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross savings are the difference between gross national income and public and private consumption, plus net current transfers. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) which is the total income earned by all residents within an economic territory during an accounting period. It is equal to gross domestic product plus earned income receivable from abroad minus earned income payable abroad.