Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Gross domestic savings was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1965–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 1.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 155.2% on the previous year and down 94.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 41.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -5.1%, in 1999.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 26.1% | — |
| 1966 | 27.8% | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 24.6% | -11.5% |
| 1968 | 24.3% | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 26.2% | +8.0% |
| 1970 | 27.9% | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 21.3% | -23.5% |
| 1972 | 25.0% | +17.3% |
| 1973 | 25.6% | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 30.9% | +20.6% |
| 1975 | 25.9% | -16.1% |
| 1976 | 30.3% | +17.1% |
| 1977 | 29.0% | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 25.9% | -10.5% |
| 1979 | 24.7% | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 25.2% | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 41.7% | +65.8% |
| 1982 | 40.3% | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 30.7% | -23.8% |
| 1984 | 26.3% | -14.2% |
| 1985 | 33.4% | +26.7% |
| 1986 | 14.8% | -55.7% |
| 1987 | 6.4% | -57.0% |
| 1988 | 4.8% | -24.2% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -50.1% |
| 1990 | -0.7% | -130.9% |
| 1991 | -0.8% | +13.6% |
| 1992 | -3.0% | +249.8% |
| 1993 | -0.5% | -82.2% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -1086.7% |
| 1995 | 15.1% | +191.6% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +45.1% |
| 1997 | 22.7% | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 24.7% | +8.6% |
| 1999 | -5.1% | -120.7% |
| 2000 | -0.5% | -90.1% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -602.5% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | +282.5% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -30.0% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 12.7% | +52.2% |
| 2006 | 17.6% | +38.0% |
| 2007 | 18.1% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 21.4% | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 14.8% | -30.9% |
| 2010 | 17.4% | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 18.1% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 17.5% | -17.0% |
| 2016 | 14.9% | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | -27.5% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | +17.7% |
| 2019 | 22.3% | +75.7% |
| 2020 | 19.9% | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 18.4% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 18.0% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | -42.7% |
| 2024 | -1.8% | -117.3% |
| 2025 | 1.0% | -155.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1086.7% | -0.5% | 5.2% |
| 2001 | +602.5% | -0.5% | 2.5% |
| 2002 | +282.5% | 2.5% | 9.7% |
| 1992 | -249.8% | -0.8% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | +191.6% | 5.2% | 15.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.8% | 24.3% | 27.8% | 5 |
| 1970s | 26.7% | 21.3% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.6% | 2.4% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.9% | -5.1% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.2% | -0.5% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 10.8% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | -1.8% | 19.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.26 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,426 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 283.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 1.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross domestic savings recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 1981.
- What is the lowest gross domestic savings recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.1% in 1999.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for gross domestic savings?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is gross domestic savings rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.