Government spending vs. GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Government spending vs. GDP was 71.62 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
71.62 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
29th
of 166 countries
All-time high
71.83 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2023
All-time low
7.75 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 71.62 billion constant 2015 US$ for government spending vs. gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in South Africa peaked at 71.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.75 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
That places South Africa 29th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 8.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 9.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.2% |
| 1963 | 9.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 10.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 11.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1966 | 12.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 12.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 13.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 14.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 15.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 16.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 16.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 17.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 18.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 21.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.1% |
| 1976 | 22.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 23.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 23.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 24.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 26.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 27.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 28.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 29.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 31.26 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 32.34 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 33.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 34.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 34.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 36.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 37.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 37.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 38.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 39.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 39.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 37.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 38.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 39.28 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 38.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 38.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 39.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 40.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 42.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 45.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 47.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 48.13 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 49.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 53.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 57.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 58.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 57.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 60.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 63.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 65.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 66.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 65.82 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 67.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 66.96 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 67.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 68.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 69.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 70.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 70.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 71.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 71.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 71.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 7.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | 14.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | 15.53 billion constant 2015 US$ | 24.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 31.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 26.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | 36.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 37.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 39.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | 39.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | 58.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | 57.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | 68.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 69.58 billion constant 2015 US$ | 71.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 26 Austria 91.11 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 27 Denmark 81.79 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 28 Thailand 76.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 30 Philippines 70.26 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 31 United Arab Emirates 68.48 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 32 Iran 68.40 billion constant 2015 US$ 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)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 48,868 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in South Africa?
- Government spending vs. gdp in South Africa was 71.62 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 71.83 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.75 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp 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 National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.