Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate was -0.2154 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.2154 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 177.3%
World rank
137th
of 166 countries
All-time high
15.16 % change on previous year
in 1962
All-time low
-6.01 % change on previous year
in 1995
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in South Africa stood at -0.2154 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 177.3% on the previous year and up 77.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 15.16 % change on previous year in 1962 and was at its lowest, -6.01 % change on previous year, in 1995.
South Africa ranks 137th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.39 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 15.16 % change on previous year | +137.3% |
| 1963 | 4.43 % change on previous year | -70.8% |
| 1964 | 7.81 % change on previous year | +76.3% |
| 1965 | 8.68 % change on previous year | +11.1% |
| 1966 | 4.98 % change on previous year | -42.6% |
| 1967 | 3.96 % change on previous year | -20.5% |
| 1968 | 6.9 % change on previous year | +74.3% |
| 1969 | 6.18 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 1970 | 7.95 % change on previous year | +28.7% |
| 1971 | 7.95 % change on previous year | +0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.4527 % change on previous year | -105.7% |
| 1973 | 4.4 % change on previous year | -1072.4% |
| 1974 | 7.74 % change on previous year | +75.8% |
| 1975 | 12.1 % change on previous year | +56.4% |
| 1976 | 5.5 % change on previous year | -54.6% |
| 1977 | 3.83 % change on previous year | -30.3% |
| 1978 | 0.672 % change on previous year | -82.5% |
| 1979 | 4.8 % change on previous year | +614.6% |
| 1980 | 9.12 % change on previous year | +89.8% |
| 1981 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -79.2% |
| 1982 | 6.32 % change on previous year | +233.8% |
| 1983 | 1.81 % change on previous year | -71.3% |
| 1984 | 6.81 % change on previous year | +275.6% |
| 1985 | 3.44 % change on previous year | -49.5% |
| 1986 | 2.29 % change on previous year | -33.3% |
| 1987 | 3.74 % change on previous year | +63.2% |
| 1988 | 1.66 % change on previous year | -55.7% |
| 1989 | 4.02 % change on previous year | +142.3% |
| 1990 | 2.26 % change on previous year | -43.7% |
| 1991 | 2.26 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.87 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 1.17 % change on previous year | -37.1% |
| 1994 | 0.8088 % change on previous year | -31.0% |
| 1995 | -6.01 % change on previous year | -842.9% |
| 1996 | 3.81 % change on previous year | -163.3% |
| 1997 | 2.14 % change on previous year | -43.9% |
| 1998 | -2.22 % change on previous year | -203.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4345 % change on previous year | -119.6% |
| 2000 | 2.93 % change on previous year | +574.1% |
| 2001 | 3.12 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 4.57 % change on previous year | +46.4% |
| 2003 | 5.65 % change on previous year | +23.7% |
| 2004 | 5.24 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 1.08 % change on previous year | -79.4% |
| 2006 | 3.77 % change on previous year | +249.2% |
| 2007 | 6.2 % change on previous year | +64.7% |
| 2008 | 7.67 % change on previous year | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 1.77 % change on previous year | -77.0% |
| 2010 | -0.2789 % change on previous year | -115.8% |
| 2011 | 4.08 % change on previous year | -1564.0% |
| 2012 | 4.79 % change on previous year | +17.3% |
| 2013 | 3.16 % change on previous year | -34.0% |
| 2014 | 1.93 % change on previous year | -39.1% |
| 2015 | -0.9612 % change on previous year | -149.9% |
| 2016 | 2.02 % change on previous year | -309.9% |
| 2017 | -0.278 % change on previous year | -113.8% |
| 2018 | 1.09 % change on previous year | -490.7% |
| 2019 | 1.84 % change on previous year | +69.5% |
| 2020 | 0.9317 % change on previous year | -49.4% |
| 2021 | 0.597 % change on previous year | -35.9% |
| 2022 | 0.7375 % change on previous year | +23.5% |
| 2023 | 1.86 % change on previous year | +152.7% |
| 2024 | -0.0777 % change on previous year | -104.2% |
| 2025 | -0.2154 % change on previous year | +177.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -0.2154 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.92 % change on previous year. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -0.2154 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.75 % change on previous year. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +1564.0% | -0.2789 % change on previous year | 4.08 % change on previous year |
| 1973 | +1072.4% | -0.4527 % change on previous year | 4.4 % change on previous year |
| 1995 | -842.9% | 0.8088 % change on previous year | -6.01 % change on previous year |
| 1979 | +614.6% | 0.672 % change on previous year | 4.8 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.17 % change on previous year | 3.96 % change on previous year | 15.16 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.45 % change on previous year | -0.4527 % change on previous year | 12.1 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.11 % change on previous year | 1.66 % change on previous year | 9.12 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6515 % change on previous year | -6.01 % change on previous year | 3.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2 % change on previous year | 1.08 % change on previous year | 7.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.74 % change on previous year | -0.9612 % change on previous year | 4.79 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6394 % change on previous year | -0.2154 % change on previous year | 1.86 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 134 Maldives 0.0138 % change on previous year compare
- 135 Bulgaria 0 % change on previous year compare
- 136 Mauritius -0.1223 % change on previous year compare
- 138 Finland -0.2388 % change on previous year compare
- 139 Belarus -0.2999 % change on previous year compare
- 140 Laos -0.3455 % 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)
- 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 spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in South Africa was -0.2154 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.16 % change on previous year in 1962.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.01 % change on previous year in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 137th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.6%. 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 Government spending vs. GDP, 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 Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
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 Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.