Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Gross domestic savings was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1965–2025
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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 1.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure 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 peaked at 41.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -5.1%, in 1999.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 40th of 43 groups on this measure, 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, 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 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
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2438 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 398.55 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.8256 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Gross domestic savings in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 1981.
- What is the lowest gross domestic savings recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.1% in 1999.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for gross domestic savings?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 40th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is gross domestic savings rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.
Download this data
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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.