Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in USD in South Africa
South Africa: Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in USD was -8.28 billion in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Current account balance in USD in South Africa, 1960–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
In 2026, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd in South Africa stood at -8.28 billion.
The figure is down 50.2% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd in South Africa peaked at 15.66 billion in 2021 and was at its lowest, -21.33 billion, in 2013.
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 in USD in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 49.00 million | — |
| 1961 | 270.20 million | +451.4% |
| 1962 | 429.80 million | +59.1% |
| 1963 | 194.60 million | -54.7% |
| 1964 | -161.00 million | -182.7% |
| 1965 | -516.60 million | +220.9% |
| 1966 | -147.00 million | -71.5% |
| 1967 | -375.20 million | +155.2% |
| 1968 | -19.60 million | -94.8% |
| 1969 | -480.20 million | +2350.0% |
| 1970 | -1.28 billion | +167.5% |
| 1971 | -1.49 billion | +16.3% |
| 1972 | -189.92 million | -87.3% |
| 1973 | -257.46 million | +35.6% |
| 1974 | -1.44 billion | +459.7% |
| 1975 | -2.43 billion | +68.4% |
| 1976 | -1.91 billion | -21.2% |
| 1977 | 239.19 million | -112.5% |
| 1978 | 1.10 billion | +359.1% |
| 1979 | 2.97 billion | +170.4% |
| 1980 | 3.17 billion | +6.8% |
| 1981 | -5.03 billion | -258.6% |
| 1982 | -3.57 billion | -29.1% |
| 1983 | -336.54 million | -90.6% |
| 1984 | -1.97 billion | +483.9% |
| 1985 | 2.25 billion | -214.6% |
| 1986 | 2.75 billion | +22.0% |
| 1987 | 5.11 billion | +85.8% |
| 1988 | 2.49 billion | -51.2% |
| 1989 | 1.47 billion | -40.9% |
| 1990 | 1.55 billion | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 1.38 billion | -10.8% |
| 1992 | 1.99 billion | +43.6% |
| 1993 | 2.79 billion | +40.4% |
| 1994 | 33.29 million | -98.8% |
| 1995 | -2.49 billion | -7591.1% |
| 1996 | -1.68 billion | -32.7% |
| 1997 | -2.22 billion | +32.1% |
| 1998 | -2.27 billion | +2.2% |
| 1999 | -677.97 million | -70.1% |
| 2000 | -192.70 million | -71.6% |
| 2001 | 333.08 million | -272.9% |
| 2002 | 1.05 billion | +215.4% |
| 2003 | -1.49 billion | -241.8% |
| 2004 | -6.41 billion | +330.1% |
| 2005 | -8.06 billion | +25.7% |
| 2006 | -12.19 billion | +51.3% |
| 2007 | -16.18 billion | +32.7% |
| 2008 | -16.33 billion | +0.9% |
| 2009 | -8.03 billion | -50.9% |
| 2010 | -5.49 billion | -31.5% |
| 2011 | -9.13 billion | +66.2% |
| 2012 | -20.29 billion | +122.3% |
| 2013 | -21.33 billion | +5.1% |
| 2014 | -18.36 billion | -13.9% |
| 2015 | -14.96 billion | -18.5% |
| 2016 | -8.59 billion | -42.6% |
| 2017 | -9.02 billion | +5.0% |
| 2018 | -12.01 billion | +33.1% |
| 2019 | -10.16 billion | -15.4% |
| 2020 | 6.89 billion | -167.8% |
| 2021 | 15.66 billion | +127.5% |
| 2022 | -1.74 billion | -111.1% |
| 2023 | -6.04 billion | +248.1% |
| 2024 | -2.42 billion | -59.9% |
| 2025 | -5.51 billion | +127.4% |
| 2026 | -8.28 billion | +50.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -75.60 million | -516.60 million | 429.80 million | 10 |
| 1970s | -469.83 million | -2.43 billion | 2.97 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | 634.63 million | -5.03 billion | 5.11 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | -158.82 million | -2.49 billion | 2.79 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | -6.75 billion | -16.33 billion | 1.05 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | -12.93 billion | -21.33 billion | -5.49 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | -205.88 million | -8.28 billion | 15.66 billion | 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd in South Africa?
- Economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd in South Africa was -8.28 billion in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.66 billion in 2021.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -21.33 billion in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 39 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — current account balance in usd rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. 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 in USD. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 67 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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