Gross capital formation in South Africa
South Africa: Gross capital formation was 0.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross capital formation in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.7% for gross capital formation in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 107.7% on the previous year and down 82.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in South Africa peaked at 31.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -25.8%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 121st out of 169 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.
Gross capital formation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.3% | — |
| 1962 | -3.7% | -385.6% |
| 1963 | 26.7% | -819.6% |
| 1964 | 17.7% | -33.6% |
| 1965 | 13.7% | -22.6% |
| 1966 | -6.6% | -148.4% |
| 1967 | 19.3% | -390.2% |
| 1968 | -3.0% | -115.8% |
| 1969 | 12.1% | -499.0% |
| 1970 | 17.3% | +42.6% |
| 1971 | 10.3% | -40.3% |
| 1972 | -11.5% | -211.2% |
| 1973 | 13.5% | -217.4% |
| 1974 | 16.0% | +18.9% |
| 1975 | 2.1% | -87.1% |
| 1976 | -10.8% | -621.4% |
| 1977 | -5.5% | -49.0% |
| 1978 | -2.7% | -51.4% |
| 1979 | 9.5% | -458.1% |
| 1980 | 31.5% | +230.6% |
| 1981 | 10.0% | -68.3% |
| 1982 | -20.0% | -300.2% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | -116.6% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -97.4% |
| 1985 | -18.0% | -21353.5% |
| 1986 | -13.0% | -27.9% |
| 1987 | -4.0% | -69.4% |
| 1988 | 21.5% | -639.1% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | -86.1% |
| 1990 | -11.4% | -480.9% |
| 1991 | -0.7% | -94.0% |
| 1992 | -6.1% | +803.4% |
| 1993 | -0.2% | -96.1% |
| 1994 | 21.0% | -8772.0% |
| 1995 | 14.2% | -32.2% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -92.8% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | +186.5% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | +13.4% |
| 1999 | -3.1% | -193.7% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -212.2% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -86.4% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +1758.8% |
| 2003 | 11.4% | +28.6% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +39.6% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | -59.4% |
| 2006 | 12.8% | +96.9% |
| 2007 | 8.6% | -32.4% |
| 2008 | 8.8% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | -8.4% | -195.7% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -109.1% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | +1435.6% |
| 2012 | -0.7% | -106.1% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | -799.4% |
| 2014 | -3.2% | -164.4% |
| 2015 | 4.0% | -224.4% |
| 2016 | -8.4% | -309.4% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -135.5% |
| 2018 | -1.2% | -140.8% |
| 2019 | -0.2% | -83.6% |
| 2020 | -25.8% | +12874.0% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | -132.1% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | +116.8% |
| 2023 | -1.8% | -109.9% |
| 2024 | -9.3% | +421.6% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | -107.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.6% | -6.6% | 26.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.8% | -11.5% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | -20.0% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | -11.4% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | -8.4% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | -8.4% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.7% | -25.8% | 17.9% | 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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,610 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 4.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.5058 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 3,337 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross capital formation in South Africa?
- Gross capital formation in South Africa was 0.7% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -25.8% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for gross capital formation?
- South Africa ranks 121st out of 169 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 82.2%. 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 Gross capital formation (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of produced assets for purposes of fixed capital formation, inventories or valuables. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.