General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: General government final consumption expenditure was 80.70 billion current US$ 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 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa stood at 80.70 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government final consumption expenditure in South Africa peaked at 83.37 billion current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 707.00 million current US$, in 1960.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government final consumption expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 707.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 771.40 million current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 907.20 million current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1963 | 964.60 million current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 1.16 billion current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1965 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 1.42 billion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1967 | 1.55 billion current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 1.73 billion current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 1.99 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1970 | 2.28 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1971 | 2.73 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1972 | 2.70 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 3.43 billion current US$ | +26.7% |
| 1974 | 4.43 billion current US$ | +29.3% |
| 1975 | 5.16 billion current US$ | +16.6% |
| 1976 | 5.26 billion current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 5.65 billion current US$ | +7.5% |
| 1978 | 6.87 billion current US$ | +21.6% |
| 1979 | 8.43 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 11.42 billion current US$ | +35.4% |
| 1981 | 12.36 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 12.69 billion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 13.86 billion current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 13.54 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 10.52 billion current US$ | -22.3% |
| 1986 | 12.31 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1987 | 16.80 billion current US$ | +36.5% |
| 1988 | 17.52 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 18.18 billion current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 22.17 billion current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1991 | 23.89 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 26.31 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 26.67 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 27.92 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 28.38 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 28.44 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 29.56 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 26.16 billion current US$ | -11.5% |
| 1999 | 25.47 billion current US$ | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 25.14 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 22.51 billion current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 21.66 billion current US$ | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 33.23 billion current US$ | +53.4% |
| 2004 | 43.50 billion current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2005 | 46.65 billion current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 48.19 billion current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 52.91 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 53.97 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 58.68 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 75.11 billion current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2011 | 83.37 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 81.76 billion current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 76.49 billion current US$ | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 73.62 billion current US$ | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 65.82 billion current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 62.48 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 73.38 billion current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2018 | 78.43 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 76.23 billion current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 69.69 billion current US$ | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 80.31 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 76.53 billion current US$ | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 73.16 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 76.97 billion current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 80.70 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.25 billion current US$ | 707.00 million current US$ | 1.99 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.70 billion current US$ | 2.28 billion current US$ | 8.43 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.92 billion current US$ | 10.52 billion current US$ | 18.18 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.50 billion current US$ | 22.17 billion current US$ | 29.56 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.64 billion current US$ | 21.66 billion current US$ | 58.68 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.67 billion current US$ | 62.48 billion current US$ | 83.37 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.23 billion current US$ | 69.69 billion current US$ | 80.70 billion current US$ | 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 5,158 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 9.97 constant LCU 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 80.70 billion current US$ 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 83.37 billion current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 707.00 million current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for general government final consumption expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 186 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 22.6%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.