Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) was -0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -0.6% for current account balance as a proportion of gdp in 2024.
The figure is up 41.8% on the previous year and up 86.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance as a proportion of gdp in South Africa peaked at 3.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -5.3%, in 2013.
That places South Africa 95th out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -301.5% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +209.1% |
| 2003 | -0.8% | -200.1% |
| 2004 | -2.5% | +220.4% |
| 2005 | -2.8% | +10.7% |
| 2006 | -4.0% | +44.2% |
| 2007 | -4.9% | +21.5% |
| 2008 | -5.2% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | -2.4% | -54.0% |
| 2010 | -1.3% | -45.5% |
| 2011 | -2.0% | +55.5% |
| 2012 | -4.7% | +131.9% |
| 2013 | -5.3% | +14.0% |
| 2014 | -4.8% | -9.9% |
| 2015 | -4.3% | -10.4% |
| 2016 | -2.6% | -38.9% |
| 2017 | -2.4% | -9.8% |
| 2018 | -3.0% | +26.4% |
| 2019 | -2.6% | -12.7% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -176.5% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +88.3% |
| 2022 | -0.3% | -107.9% |
| 2023 | -1.1% | +272.6% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -41.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -0.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.1%, 31% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -0.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -4.1%, 16% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -2.2% | -5.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.3% | -5.3% | -1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | -1.1% | 3.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance as a proportion of gdp in South Africa?
- Current account balance as a proportion of gdp in South Africa was -0.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest current account balance as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.3% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for current account balance as a proportion of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 95th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is current account balance as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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