General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) was 1.44 trillion current 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 current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa stood at 1.44 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 72.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa peaked at 1.44 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 505.00 million current LCU, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 56th of 187 countries on this measure, 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 (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 505.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 551.00 million current LCU | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 648.00 million current LCU | +17.6% |
| 1963 | 689.00 million current LCU | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 831.00 million current LCU | +20.6% |
| 1965 | 928.00 million current LCU | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 1.02 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1967 | 1.11 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 1.42 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1970 | 1.63 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1971 | 1.96 billion current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1972 | 2.08 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 2.38 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 1974 | 3.01 billion current LCU | +26.6% |
| 1975 | 3.82 billion current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1976 | 4.57 billion current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1977 | 4.91 billion current LCU | +7.5% |
| 1978 | 5.98 billion current LCU | +21.6% |
| 1979 | 7.10 billion current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1980 | 8.89 billion current LCU | +25.3% |
| 1981 | 10.85 billion current LCU | +22.0% |
| 1982 | 13.78 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 1983 | 15.44 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1984 | 19.97 billion current LCU | +29.3% |
| 1985 | 23.45 billion current LCU | +17.5% |
| 1986 | 28.13 billion current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1987 | 34.21 billion current LCU | +21.6% |
| 1988 | 39.82 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1989 | 47.67 billion current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 57.36 billion current LCU | +20.3% |
| 1991 | 65.97 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1992 | 75.03 billion current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1993 | 87.16 billion current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 99.15 billion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 102.95 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 122.29 billion current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1997 | 136.20 billion current LCU | +11.4% |
| 1998 | 144.62 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 155.61 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 174.48 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 193.80 billion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 228.33 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 2003 | 251.38 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 280.99 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2005 | 296.65 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 326.35 billion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 372.80 billion current LCU | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 445.87 billion current LCU | +19.6% |
| 2009 | 497.19 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 549.89 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2011 | 605.36 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2012 | 671.21 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 738.19 billion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 798.42 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 839.29 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 918.95 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 976.85 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 1.04 trillion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 1.10 trillion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 1.15 trillion current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 1.19 trillion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 1.25 trillion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 1.35 trillion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 1.41 trillion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 1.44 trillion current LCU | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.44 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 259.76 billion current LCU, 5.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.44 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.27 trillion current LCU, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 893.00 million current LCU | 505.00 million current LCU | 1.42 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.74 billion current LCU | 1.63 billion current LCU | 7.10 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.22 billion current LCU | 8.89 billion current LCU | 47.67 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 104.63 billion current LCU | 57.36 billion current LCU | 155.61 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 306.78 billion current LCU | 174.48 billion current LCU | 497.19 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 823.75 billion current LCU | 549.89 billion current LCU | 1.10 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.30 trillion current LCU | 1.15 trillion current LCU | 1.44 trillion current LCU | 6 |
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)
- 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 in South Africa?
- General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa was 1.44 trillion current 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 1.44 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 505.00 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for general government final consumption expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 187 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 72.0%. 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 (current 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 current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.