Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP was 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
43rd
of 166 countries
All-time high
0.9671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1962
All-time low
0.1316 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2011
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.9671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.1316 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2011.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.8855 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.8933 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 0.9671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.3% |
| 1963 | 0.9132 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1964 | 0.8938 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 0.8887 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 0.858 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.5% |
| 1967 | 0.8012 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 0.7912 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 0.7471 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1970 | 0.7319 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 0.7161 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6807 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 0.5238 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -23.1% |
| 1974 | 0.4535 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 1975 | 0.4904 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 0.5395 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 0.5085 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 0.4497 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.6% |
| 1979 | 0.3858 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.2% |
| 1980 | 0.2968 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -23.1% |
| 1981 | 0.2903 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 0.3347 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.3% |
| 1983 | 0.3043 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.1% |
| 1984 | 0.3684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +21.1% |
| 1985 | 0.5017 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +36.2% |
| 1986 | 0.4509 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.1% |
| 1987 | 0.3555 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.2% |
| 1988 | 0.3355 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 0.3358 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 0.2944 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.3% |
| 1991 | 0.2807 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 0.263 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 0.2657 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 0.2568 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 0.2158 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.0% |
| 1996 | 0.2356 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 0.2325 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 0.2511 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.0% |
| 1999 | 0.2546 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 0.2617 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 0.3024 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 0.3317 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 0.2296 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -30.8% |
| 2004 | 0.1861 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.9% |
| 2005 | 0.1666 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1643 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1592 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 0.1806 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1762 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 0.1389 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.2% |
| 2011 | 0.1316 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 0.1455 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 0.1627 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.8% |
| 2014 | 0.1744 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1899 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 0.2075 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1756 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.4% |
| 2018 | 0.167 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 0.1771 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 0.2059 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.3% |
| 2021 | 0.1667 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.0% |
| 2022 | 0.173 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 0.1883 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.8% |
| 2024 | 0.1789 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
| 2025 | 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.1226 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.1114 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8639 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7471 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.9671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.548 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3858 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.7319 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3574 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2903 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5017 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.255 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2158 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2944 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2159 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1592 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3317 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.167 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1316 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2075 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1801 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1667 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2059 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 40 United Kingdom 0.1706 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 41 Saudi Arabia 0.168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 42 Oman 0.168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 44 Israel 0.1671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 45 Germany 0.1651 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 46 Morocco 0.1639 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.1676 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9671 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1962.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1316 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. 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, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Government spending vs. GDP divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ GDP (current US$)
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
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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
Government spending vs. GDP divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.