Gross domestic savings in South Africa
South Africa: Gross domestic savings was 15.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross domestic savings in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic savings in South Africa is 15.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic savings in South Africa peaked at 35.3% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 119th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Gross domestic savings in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 31.6% | — |
| 1961 | 32.6% | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 32.4% | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 33.8% | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 32.5% | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 33.3% | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 33.2% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 34.8% | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 33.2% | -4.5% |
| 1969 | 32.7% | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 30.9% | -5.5% |
| 1971 | 29.2% | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 30.0% | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 33.4% | +11.3% |
| 1974 | 35.3% | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 30.0% | -14.9% |
| 1976 | 29.3% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 29.8% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 30.3% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 31.5% | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 33.7% | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 30.0% | -10.8% |
| 1982 | 26.9% | -10.4% |
| 1983 | 26.1% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 25.0% | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 25.5% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 24.1% | -5.7% |
| 1987 | 21.8% | -9.3% |
| 1988 | 21.6% | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 22.3% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 18.2% | -18.5% |
| 1991 | 17.7% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 18.1% | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 17.3% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 18.8% | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 18.0% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 17.1% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 20.5% | +13.7% |
| 2003 | 21.2% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 19.3% | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 20.3% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 20.6% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 20.6% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 19.9% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 20.2% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 19.6% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 16.9% | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 17.8% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 16.7% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 19.1% | +13.8% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 16.6% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 16.2% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 15.3% | -5.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.9%, 81% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.7%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 33.0% | 31.6% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.0% | 29.2% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.7% | 21.6% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 17.0% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.9% | 17.8% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 16.3% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 15.3% | 19.1% | 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)
- 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 gross domestic savings in South Africa?
- Gross domestic savings in South Africa was 15.3% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross domestic savings recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.3% in 1974.
- What is the lowest gross domestic savings recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for gross domestic savings?
- South Africa ranks 119th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross domestic savings rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 domestic savings (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross domestic savings are calculated as GDP less final consumption expenditure (total consumption). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.