Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in South Africa
South Africa: Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion was 4.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in South Africa, 1971–2021
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4.4% for adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in 2021.
That represents a change of up 107.0% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in South Africa peaked at 7.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1971.
That places South Africa 59th out of 184 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.9% | — |
| 1972 | 0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 1.0% | +13.2% |
| 1974 | 1.9% | +87.6% |
| 1975 | 2.0% | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 2.4% | +17.7% |
| 1977 | 2.5% | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 2.1% | -14.7% |
| 1979 | 3.9% | +83.9% |
| 1980 | 7.4% | +89.1% |
| 1981 | 5.9% | -20.3% |
| 1982 | 5.6% | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | -12.3% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -44.7% |
| 1985 | 5.7% | +109.7% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | -23.8% |
| 1987 | 3.5% | -19.4% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -8.5% |
| 1990 | 2.7% | -12.6% |
| 1991 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -17.9% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +9.4% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | -21.2% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +19.2% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | -21.8% |
| 1998 | 1.3% | -25.0% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | -16.4% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | +77.3% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +37.5% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -42.5% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +85.3% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | +24.1% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | +86.6% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -61.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +49.3% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +16.5% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -18.8% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -26.9% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | -53.4% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +32.4% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | +7.4% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | +107.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 3.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.1%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.0% | 0.9% | 3.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 2.7% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.1% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.4% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 1.3% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.1% | 4.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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: natural resources depletion in South Africa?
- Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion in South Africa was 4.4% in 2021, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest adjusted savings: natural resources depletion recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1980.
- What is the lowest adjusted savings: natural resources depletion recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for adjusted savings: natural resources depletion?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adjusted savings: natural resources depletion rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Adjusted savings: natural resources depletion (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Natural resource depletion is the sum of net forest depletion, energy depletion, and mineral depletion. Net forest depletion is unit resource rents times the excess of roundwood harvest over natural growth. Energy depletion is the ratio of the value of the stock of energy resources to the remaining reserve lifetime (capped at 25 years). It covers coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Mineral depletion is the ratio of the value of the stock of mineral resources to the remaining reserve lifetime (capped at 25 years). It covers tin, gold, lead, zinc, iron, copper, nickel, silver, bauxite, and phosphate. 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.