Final consumption expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Final consumption expenditure was 2.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Final consumption expenditure in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
The most recent figure for final consumption expenditure in South Africa is 2.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 265.1% on the previous year and up 89.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, final consumption expenditure in South Africa peaked at 8.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -4.5%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 106th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Final consumption expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.0% | — |
| 1962 | 5.6% | +86.5% |
| 1963 | 6.0% | +8.1% |
| 1964 | 8.1% | +35.0% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | -42.0% |
| 1966 | 4.7% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 4.4% | -7.9% |
| 1968 | 7.3% | +66.0% |
| 1969 | 6.8% | -6.4% |
| 1970 | 6.9% | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 5.4% | -20.8% |
| 1972 | 3.2% | -41.4% |
| 1973 | 6.9% | +115.7% |
| 1974 | 5.8% | -15.8% |
| 1975 | 5.5% | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 2.5% | -54.6% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -89.2% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | +419.9% |
| 1979 | 3.1% | +118.6% |
| 1980 | 8.7% | +185.5% |
| 1981 | 5.9% | -32.0% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | -47.2% |
| 1983 | 2.7% | -13.6% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | +90.3% |
| 1985 | -1.7% | -133.2% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -142.6% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | +425.3% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -28.8% |
| 1990 | 2.7% | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -91.9% |
| 1992 | -0.5% | -343.2% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | -417.1% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | +84.8% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | -13.3% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +58.9% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -30.8% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | -73.9% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +83.8% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +169.6% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | +71.9% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -17.7% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +54.6% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -15.5% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | -59.3% |
| 2009 | -1.6% | -160.5% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -368.6% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -46.3% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -47.9% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +42.2% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -30.5% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | +26.6% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +114.7% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -47.6% |
| 2020 | -4.5% | -421.8% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | -204.1% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -53.2% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -72.9% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | +24.1% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | +265.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.6% | 3.0% | 8.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | 0.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | -1.7% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | -0.5% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | -1.6% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 1.0% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | -4.5% | 4.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 103 North Macedonia 2.7% compare
- 104 Yemen 2.7% compare
- 105 Czechia 2.7% compare
- 107 East Timor 2.7% compare
- 108 Sierra Leone 2.5% compare
- 109 Democratic Republic of Congo 2.5% compare
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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,111 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 2.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14,168 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is final consumption expenditure in South Africa?
- Final consumption expenditure in South Africa was 2.7% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.5% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for final consumption expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 106th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is final consumption expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Final consumption expenditure (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Final consumption expenditure is expenditure on goods and services by resident institutional units for the direct satisfaction of human needs or wants, whether individual or collective. Final consumption expenditure can be measured for households, general government, the central bank and non-profit institutions serving households. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.