Economic Outlook No 117: Government final consumption … growth in South Africa
South Africa: Economic Outlook No 117: Government final consumption … growth was 1.34 in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Economic Outlook No 117 — Government final consumption expenditure in South Africa, 1961–2026
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.34 for economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure in 2026.
That represents a change of down 49.6% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure in South Africa peaked at 15.16 in 1962 and was at its lowest, -6.01, in 1995.
That places South Africa 17th out of 38 countries with data for 2026, putting it 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: Government final consumption … growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.39 | — |
| 1962 | 15.16 | +137.3% |
| 1963 | 4.43 | -70.8% |
| 1964 | 7.81 | +76.3% |
| 1965 | 8.68 | +11.1% |
| 1966 | 4.98 | -42.6% |
| 1967 | 3.96 | -20.5% |
| 1968 | 6.9 | +74.3% |
| 1969 | 6.17 | -10.5% |
| 1970 | 7.95 | +28.7% |
| 1971 | 7.95 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.4518 | -105.7% |
| 1973 | 4.4 | -1074.6% |
| 1974 | 7.74 | +75.7% |
| 1975 | 12.1 | +56.4% |
| 1976 | 5.5 | -54.6% |
| 1977 | 3.83 | -30.3% |
| 1978 | 0.6718 | -82.5% |
| 1979 | 4.8 | +615.0% |
| 1980 | 9.12 | +89.8% |
| 1981 | 1.89 | -79.2% |
| 1982 | 6.32 | +233.9% |
| 1983 | 1.81 | -71.3% |
| 1984 | 6.81 | +275.7% |
| 1985 | 3.44 | -49.5% |
| 1986 | 2.29 | -33.4% |
| 1987 | 3.74 | +63.3% |
| 1988 | 1.66 | -55.7% |
| 1989 | 4.02 | +142.4% |
| 1990 | 2.26 | -43.7% |
| 1991 | 2.26 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.87 | -17.4% |
| 1993 | 1.17 | -37.2% |
| 1994 | 0.8089 | -31.0% |
| 1995 | -6.01 | -842.9% |
| 1996 | 3.81 | -163.3% |
| 1997 | 2.14 | -43.9% |
| 1998 | -2.22 | -203.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4345 | -119.6% |
| 2000 | 2.93 | +574.1% |
| 2001 | 3.12 | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 4.57 | +46.4% |
| 2003 | 5.65 | +23.7% |
| 2004 | 5.24 | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 1.08 | -79.4% |
| 2006 | 3.77 | +249.2% |
| 2007 | 6.2 | +64.7% |
| 2008 | 7.67 | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 1.77 | -77.0% |
| 2010 | -0.2789 | -115.8% |
| 2011 | 4.08 | -1564.2% |
| 2012 | 4.79 | +17.3% |
| 2013 | 3.16 | -34.0% |
| 2014 | 1.93 | -39.1% |
| 2015 | -0.9611 | -149.9% |
| 2016 | 2.02 | -309.9% |
| 2017 | -0.2781 | -113.8% |
| 2018 | 1.09 | -490.7% |
| 2019 | 1.84 | +69.5% |
| 2020 | 0.9317 | -49.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5888 | -36.8% |
| 2022 | 0.6169 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 1.87 | +203.5% |
| 2024 | 0.3873 | -79.3% |
| 2025 | 2.65 | +584.5% |
| 2026 | 1.34 | -49.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.34 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.45, 92% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Economic Outlook No 117: Government final consumption … growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +1564.2% | -0.2789 | 4.08 |
| 1973 | +1074.6% | -0.4518 | 4.4 |
| 1995 | -842.9% | 0.8089 | -6.01 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.17 | 3.96 | 15.16 | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.45 | -0.4518 | 12.1 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.11 | 1.66 | 9.12 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6516 | -6.01 | 3.81 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2 | 1.08 | 7.67 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.74 | -0.9611 | 4.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2 | 0.3873 | 2.65 | 7 |
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 economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure in South Africa?
- Economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure in South Africa was 1.34 in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.16 in 1962.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.01 in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 17th out of 38 countries with data for 2026.
- Is economic outlook no 117 — government final consumption expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. 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 — Government final consumption expenditure, volume, growth. 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