Government revenues as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Government revenues as a share of GDP was 36.5% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Government revenues as a share of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 36.5% for government revenues as a share of gdp in 2022.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government revenues as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 39.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 27.6%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 55th out of 174 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Government revenues as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28.4% | — |
| 2001 | 28.8% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 29.2% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 30.9% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 31.3% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 32.6% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 31.6% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 29.9% | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 30.8% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 31.3% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 32.0% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 38.1% | +19.2% |
| 2014 | 39.0% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 35.5% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 34.9% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 34.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 34.1% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 34.9% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 33.7% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 36.0% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.8% | 27.6% | 32.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.5% | 30.8% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.4% | 33.7% | 36.5% | 3 |
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government revenues as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Government revenues as a share of gdp in South Africa was 36.5% in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 2014.
- What is the lowest government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.6% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for government revenues as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 174 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included.