General government final consumption … current rate annual growth in South Africa
South Africa: General government final consumption … current rate annual growth was 2.32 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) in South Africa stood at 2.32 % change on previous year. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 48.7% on the previous year and down 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) in South Africa peaked at 29.33 % change on previous year in 1984 and was at its lowest, 2.32 % change on previous year, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 155th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government final consumption … current rate annual growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9.11 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 17.6 % change on previous year | +93.3% |
| 1963 | 6.33 % change on previous year | -64.1% |
| 1964 | 20.61 % change on previous year | +225.7% |
| 1965 | 11.67 % change on previous year | -43.4% |
| 1966 | 9.59 % change on previous year | -17.8% |
| 1967 | 9.14 % change on previous year | -4.7% |
| 1968 | 11.08 % change on previous year | +21.2% |
| 1969 | 15 % change on previous year | +35.4% |
| 1970 | 14.95 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 19.94 % change on previous year | +33.4% |
| 1972 | 6.29 % change on previous year | -68.4% |
| 1973 | 14.39 % change on previous year | +128.7% |
| 1974 | 26.59 % change on previous year | +84.8% |
| 1975 | 26.92 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 19.74 % change on previous year | -26.7% |
| 1977 | 7.46 % change on previous year | -62.2% |
| 1978 | 21.61 % change on previous year | +189.8% |
| 1979 | 18.81 % change on previous year | -13.0% |
| 1980 | 25.25 % change on previous year | +34.3% |
| 1981 | 21.99 % change on previous year | -12.9% |
| 1982 | 26.97 % change on previous year | +22.6% |
| 1983 | 12.09 % change on previous year | -55.2% |
| 1984 | 29.33 % change on previous year | +142.7% |
| 1985 | 17.45 % change on previous year | -40.5% |
| 1986 | 19.92 % change on previous year | +14.2% |
| 1987 | 21.63 % change on previous year | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 16.41 % change on previous year | -24.1% |
| 1989 | 19.7 % change on previous year | +20.1% |
| 1990 | 20.33 % change on previous year | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 15 % change on previous year | -26.2% |
| 1992 | 13.73 % change on previous year | -8.5% |
| 1993 | 16.17 % change on previous year | +17.8% |
| 1994 | 13.75 % change on previous year | -15.0% |
| 1995 | 3.83 % change on previous year | -72.1% |
| 1996 | 18.79 % change on previous year | +390.2% |
| 1997 | 11.38 % change on previous year | -39.4% |
| 1998 | 6.18 % change on previous year | -45.7% |
| 1999 | 7.6 % change on previous year | +22.9% |
| 2000 | 12.12 % change on previous year | +59.5% |
| 2001 | 11.08 % change on previous year | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 17.82 % change on previous year | +60.8% |
| 2003 | 10.09 % change on previous year | -43.3% |
| 2004 | 11.78 % change on previous year | +16.7% |
| 2005 | 5.58 % change on previous year | -52.7% |
| 2006 | 10.01 % change on previous year | +79.5% |
| 2007 | 14.23 % change on previous year | +42.2% |
| 2008 | 19.6 % change on previous year | +37.7% |
| 2009 | 11.51 % change on previous year | -41.3% |
| 2010 | 10.6 % change on previous year | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 10.09 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 10.88 % change on previous year | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 9.98 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 8.16 % change on previous year | -18.2% |
| 2015 | 5.12 % change on previous year | -37.3% |
| 2016 | 9.49 % change on previous year | +85.4% |
| 2017 | 6.3 % change on previous year | -33.6% |
| 2018 | 6.25 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 6.12 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 4.14 % change on previous year | -32.3% |
| 2021 | 3.47 % change on previous year | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 5.46 % change on previous year | +57.4% |
| 2023 | 7.84 % change on previous year | +43.5% |
| 2024 | 4.52 % change on previous year | -42.3% |
| 2025 | 2.32 % change on previous year | -48.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.32 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.15 % change on previous year, 25% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.32 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.69 % change on previous year, 22% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where General government final consumption … current rate annual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +390.2% | 3.83 % change on previous year | 18.79 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.24 % change on previous year | 6.33 % change on previous year | 20.61 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 17.67 % change on previous year | 6.29 % change on previous year | 26.92 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.08 % change on previous year | 12.09 % change on previous year | 29.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.68 % change on previous year | 3.83 % change on previous year | 20.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.38 % change on previous year | 5.58 % change on previous year | 19.6 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.3 % change on previous year | 5.12 % change on previous year | 10.88 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.63 % change on previous year | 2.32 % change on previous year | 7.84 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 152 Switzerland 2.68 % change on previous year compare
- 153 East Timor 2.67 % change on previous year compare
- 154 Cameroon 2.52 % change on previous year compare
- 156 Sweden 2.26 % change on previous year compare
- 157 Bahamas 2.08 % change on previous year compare
- 158 Botswana 2 % change on previous year 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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) in South Africa?
- General government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) in South Africa was 2.32 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.33 % change on previous year in 1984.
- What is the lowest general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.32 % change on previous year in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu)?
- South Africa ranks 155th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government final consumption expenditure (current lcu) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- General government final consumption expenditure Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.