Current account balance as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Current account balance as a share of GDP was -0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance as a share of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -0.6% for current account balance as a share of gdp in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 41.8% on the previous year and up 86.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 3.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -5.3%, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 90th of 193 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.
Current account balance as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -292.3% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +212.0% |
| 2003 | -0.8% | -200.0% |
| 2004 | -2.5% | +221.8% |
| 2005 | -2.8% | +10.4% |
| 2006 | -4.0% | +44.4% |
| 2007 | -4.9% | +21.5% |
| 2008 | -5.2% | +6.8% |
| 2009 | -2.4% | -54.1% |
| 2010 | -1.3% | -45.4% |
| 2011 | -2.0% | +55.4% |
| 2012 | -4.7% | +131.7% |
| 2013 | -5.3% | +14.1% |
| 2014 | -4.8% | -9.9% |
| 2015 | -4.3% | -10.4% |
| 2016 | -2.6% | -39.0% |
| 2017 | -2.4% | -9.9% |
| 2018 | -3.0% | +26.6% |
| 2019 | -2.6% | -12.7% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -176.3% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +88.5% |
| 2022 | -0.3% | -108.0% |
| 2023 | -1.1% | +266.7% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -41.8% |
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
- 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)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 37,072 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,531 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Current account balance as a share of gdp in South Africa was -0.6% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest current account balance as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest current account balance as a share 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 share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 90th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is current account balance as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Current account balance as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Current account balance as a proportion of GDP (%).