Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa
South Africa: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of was -1.85 in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa, 1960–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa is -1.85, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of down 41.0% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa peaked at 5.26 in 1987 and was at its lowest, -6.68, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 27th of 39 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.
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.5902 | — |
| 1961 | 3.09 | +423.9% |
| 1962 | 4.61 | +49.2% |
| 1963 | 1.88 | -59.2% |
| 1964 | -1.42 | -175.2% |
| 1965 | -4.16 | +193.7% |
| 1966 | -1.09 | -73.9% |
| 1967 | -2.48 | +128.9% |
| 1968 | -0.1201 | -95.2% |
| 1969 | -2.61 | +2074.7% |
| 1970 | -6.39 | +144.6% |
| 1971 | -6.68 | +4.5% |
| 1972 | -0.8003 | -88.0% |
| 1973 | -0.7495 | -6.3% |
| 1974 | -3.59 | +379.4% |
| 1975 | -5.75 | +60.1% |
| 1976 | -4.77 | -17.1% |
| 1977 | 0.5369 | -111.3% |
| 1978 | 2.14 | +299.3% |
| 1979 | 4.7 | +119.3% |
| 1980 | 3.61 | -23.1% |
| 1981 | -5.49 | -251.9% |
| 1982 | -3.98 | -27.5% |
| 1983 | -0.4216 | -89.4% |
| 1984 | -2.21 | +424.3% |
| 1985 | 3.58 | -262.1% |
| 1986 | 3.75 | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 5.26 | +40.3% |
| 1988 | 2.46 | -53.2% |
| 1989 | 1.39 | -43.3% |
| 1990 | 1.22 | -12.5% |
| 1991 | 1.04 | -14.5% |
| 1992 | 1.33 | +27.7% |
| 1993 | 1.89 | +41.7% |
| 1994 | 0.0103 | -99.5% |
| 1995 | -1.45 | -14234.2% |
| 1996 | -1.01 | -30.2% |
| 1997 | -1.31 | +29.6% |
| 1998 | -1.55 | +17.9% |
| 1999 | -0.449 | -71.0% |
| 2000 | -0.1132 | -74.8% |
| 2001 | 0.2461 | -317.4% |
| 2002 | 0.8067 | +227.8% |
| 2003 | -0.7346 | -191.1% |
| 2004 | -2.47 | +236.5% |
| 2005 | -2.79 | +13.1% |
| 2006 | -4.03 | +44.1% |
| 2007 | -4.85 | +20.3% |
| 2008 | -5.02 | +3.5% |
| 2009 | -2.43 | -51.5% |
| 2010 | -1.34 | -45.1% |
| 2011 | -2.01 | +50.2% |
| 2012 | -4.69 | +133.7% |
| 2013 | -5.33 | +13.6% |
| 2014 | -4.81 | -9.8% |
| 2015 | -4.34 | -9.7% |
| 2016 | -2.68 | -38.3% |
| 2017 | -2.37 | -11.5% |
| 2018 | -2.93 | +23.7% |
| 2019 | -2.6 | -11.1% |
| 2020 | 1.97 | -175.6% |
| 2021 | 3.69 | +87.5% |
| 2022 | -0.5003 | -113.6% |
| 2023 | -1.6 | +219.0% |
| 2024 | -0.6066 | -62.0% |
| 2025 | -1.31 | +116.0% |
| 2026 | -1.85 | +41.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -1.85 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.34, 1.4× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -14234.2% | 0.0103 | -1.45 |
| 1969 | -2074.7% | -0.1201 | -2.61 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.1696 | -4.16 | 4.61 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.13 | -6.68 | 4.7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7955 | -5.49 | 5.26 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.0287 | -1.55 | 1.89 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.14 | -5.02 | 0.8067 | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.31 | -5.33 | -1.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0285 | -1.85 | 3.69 | 7 |
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 economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of in South Africa was -1.85 in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.26 in 1987.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.68 in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 39 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance as a percentage of rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance as a percentage of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2025), OECD Economic Outlook No 117 (Edition 2025/1) EO117 Database documentation EO117 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact : eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords : Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP