Adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa
South Africa: Adjusted savings: net national savings was 3.5% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa, 1970–2021
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa is 3.5%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 499.7% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa peaked at 21.3% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -1.8%, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 132nd of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17.2% | — |
| 1971 | 15.1% | -12.2% |
| 1972 | 15.2% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 19.3% | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 21.3% | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 13.8% | -35.0% |
| 1976 | 11.5% | -16.7% |
| 1977 | 11.1% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 11.1% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 12.5% | +11.9% |
| 1980 | 16.4% | +31.4% |
| 1981 | 11.9% | -27.4% |
| 1982 | 7.4% | -37.4% |
| 1983 | 6.0% | -19.7% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | -14.2% |
| 1985 | 4.1% | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | -58.2% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -61.2% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +94.2% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | +77.4% |
| 1990 | -1.8% | -178.5% |
| 1991 | -0.7% | -61.3% |
| 1992 | -0.2% | -70.2% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | -893.3% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -10.1% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | +113.9% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | -23.3% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | -31.2% |
| 1998 | 1.3% | -24.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -49.1% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +166.0% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -17.5% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | +246.1% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | +15.6% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | -14.3% |
| 2005 | 5.8% | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -21.1% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -32.5% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -18.6% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -88.8% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -45.8% |
| 2014 | -0.1% | -163.3% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -467.0% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -75.3% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | +365.7% |
| 2018 | -0.7% | -224.7% |
| 2019 | -0.8% | +17.3% |
| 2020 | -0.9% | +13.0% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -499.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.3%, 38% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.1%, 49% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +893.3% | -0.2% | 1.6% |
| 2021 | +499.7% | -0.9% | 3.5% |
| 2015 | +467.0% | -0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2017 | +365.7% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2002 | +246.1% | 1.4% | 4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.8% | 11.1% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.7% | 0.7% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | -1.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 1.4% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | -0.8% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | -0.9% | 3.5% | 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: net national savings in South Africa?
- Adjusted savings: net national savings in South Africa was 3.5% in 2021, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest adjusted savings: net national savings recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 1974.
- What is the lowest adjusted savings: net national savings recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.8% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for adjusted savings: net national savings?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adjusted savings: net national savings rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. 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: net national savings (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net national savings are equal to gross national savings less the value of consumption of fixed capital. 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.