General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: General government final consumption expenditure was 913.14 billion constant LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in constant LCU.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 913.14 billion constant LCU for general government final consumption expenditure in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa peaked at 915.83 billion constant LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 98.78 billion constant LCU, in 1960.
That places South Africa 53rd 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.
General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 98.78 billion constant LCU | — |
| 1961 | 105.09 billion constant LCU | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 121.02 billion constant LCU | +15.2% |
| 1963 | 126.39 billion constant LCU | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 136.26 billion constant LCU | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 148.09 billion constant LCU | +8.7% |
| 1966 | 155.47 billion constant LCU | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 161.62 billion constant LCU | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 172.77 billion constant LCU | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 183.44 billion constant LCU | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 198.02 billion constant LCU | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 213.76 billion constant LCU | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 212.79 billion constant LCU | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 222.16 billion constant LCU | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 239.35 billion constant LCU | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 268.32 billion constant LCU | +12.1% |
| 1976 | 283.07 billion constant LCU | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 293.91 billion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 295.89 billion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 310.10 billion constant LCU | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 338.36 billion constant LCU | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 344.77 billion constant LCU | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 366.57 billion constant LCU | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 373.21 billion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 398.62 billion constant LCU | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 412.32 billion constant LCU | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 421.77 billion constant LCU | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 437.55 billion constant LCU | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 444.80 billion constant LCU | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 462.66 billion constant LCU | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 473.13 billion constant LCU | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 483.83 billion constant LCU | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 492.85 billion constant LCU | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 498.63 billion constant LCU | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 502.66 billion constant LCU | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 472.46 billion constant LCU | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 490.43 billion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 500.91 billion constant LCU | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 489.79 billion constant LCU | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 491.92 billion constant LCU | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 506.32 billion constant LCU | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 522.13 billion constant LCU | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 546.00 billion constant LCU | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 576.87 billion constant LCU | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 607.08 billion constant LCU | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 613.63 billion constant LCU | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 636.75 billion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 676.26 billion constant LCU | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 728.13 billion constant LCU | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 740.99 billion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 738.92 billion constant LCU | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 769.10 billion constant LCU | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 805.94 billion constant LCU | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 831.42 billion constant LCU | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 847.43 billion constant LCU | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 839.29 billion constant LCU | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 856.22 billion constant LCU | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 853.84 billion constant LCU | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 863.12 billion constant LCU | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 879.00 billion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 887.19 billion constant LCU | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 892.49 billion constant LCU | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 899.07 billion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 915.83 billion constant LCU | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 915.12 billion constant LCU | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 913.14 billion constant LCU | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 140.89 billion constant LCU | 98.78 billion constant LCU | 183.44 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 253.74 billion constant LCU | 198.02 billion constant LCU | 310.10 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 400.06 billion constant LCU | 338.36 billion constant LCU | 462.66 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 489.66 billion constant LCU | 472.46 billion constant LCU | 502.66 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 615.42 billion constant LCU | 506.32 billion constant LCU | 740.99 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 828.43 billion constant LCU | 738.92 billion constant LCU | 879.00 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 903.81 billion constant LCU | 887.19 billion constant LCU | 915.83 billion constant LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 50 Democratic Republic of Congo 964.72 billion constant LCU compare
- 51 Saudi Arabia 951.48 billion constant LCU compare
- 52 Iceland 921.81 billion constant LCU compare
- 54 Brazil 861.48 billion constant LCU compare
- 55 Germany 827.49 billion constant LCU compare
- 56 Burundi 826.62 billion constant LCU 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 general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa?
- General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa was 913.14 billion constant LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 915.83 billion constant LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.78 billion constant LCU in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for general government final consumption expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government final consumption expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. 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 General government final consumption expenditure (constant LCU). 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. General government FCE includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees), and most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. This indicator is expressed in constant prices, meaning the series has been adjusted to account for price changes over time. The reference year for this adjustment varies by country. This series is expressed in local currency units.