Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of GDP was -33.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
-33.4%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
116th
of 162 countries
All-time high
-23.7%
in 2002
All-time low
-37.8%
in 2020
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp in South Africa is -33.4%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp in South Africa peaked at -23.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -37.8%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 116th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -24.4% | — |
| 2001 | -24.3% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | -23.7% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | -24.8% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | -25.6% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | -25.6% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -25.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | -26.1% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | -27.2% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | -29.1% | +7.1% |
| 2010 | -29.6% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | -31.1% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | -30.4% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | -31.3% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | -31.9% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | -33.7% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | -32.2% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | -33.3% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | -34.0% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | -34.7% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | -37.8% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | -34.6% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | -33.4% | -3.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -33.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -26.5%, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -33.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -17.2%, 1.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -25.7% | -29.1% | -23.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -32.2% | -34.7% | -29.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -35.3% | -37.8% | -33.4% | 3 |
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 cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp in South Africa?
- Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp in South Africa was -33.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was -23.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -37.8% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 116th out of 162 countries with data for 2022.
- Is cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Cash surplus/deficit as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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