Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure was 16.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa, 2017–2023
Source: USDA Economic Research Service (2022); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2023); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa stood at 16.1%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 25.5% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
That places South Africa 74th out of 104 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 21.4% | — |
| 2018 | 21.4% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 21.1% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 21.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -25.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 21.3% | 21.1% | 21.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 16.1% | 21.6% | 4 |
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)
- 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 share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa?
- Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure in South Africa was 16.1% in 2023, according to USDA Economic Research Service (2022); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2023); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 74th out of 104 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from USDA Economic Research Service (2022); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2023); USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of expenditure spent on food vs. total consumer expenditure. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of consumer expenditures that are spent on food. This only includes food eaten at home, and does not include alcoholic beverages and tobacco.