Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa
South Africa: Gross fixed capital formation was -2.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross fixed capital formation in South Africa is -2.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 43.3% on the previous year and down 263.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross fixed capital formation in South Africa peaked at 19.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -18.6%, in 1986.
South Africa ranks 140th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.1% | — |
| 1962 | -2.3% | -2625.6% |
| 1963 | 17.9% | -868.7% |
| 1964 | 19.7% | +10.1% |
| 1965 | 17.4% | -11.3% |
| 1966 | -1.1% | -106.5% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -327.0% |
| 1968 | 4.5% | +75.4% |
| 1969 | 12.5% | +176.9% |
| 1970 | 14.3% | +13.9% |
| 1971 | 10.8% | -24.3% |
| 1972 | 5.8% | -46.0% |
| 1973 | 5.2% | -10.6% |
| 1974 | 6.5% | +25.0% |
| 1975 | 9.8% | +49.4% |
| 1976 | -1.2% | -112.7% |
| 1977 | -6.0% | +382.5% |
| 1978 | -2.8% | -53.5% |
| 1979 | 4.2% | -250.3% |
| 1980 | 17.1% | +309.7% |
| 1981 | 9.0% | -47.6% |
| 1982 | -2.1% | -124.0% |
| 1983 | -3.5% | +64.7% |
| 1984 | -1.5% | -57.9% |
| 1985 | -7.0% | +371.7% |
| 1986 | -18.6% | +164.4% |
| 1987 | -5.1% | -72.5% |
| 1988 | 12.6% | -345.9% |
| 1989 | 6.5% | -48.3% |
| 1990 | -2.3% | -136.0% |
| 1991 | -7.4% | +215.7% |
| 1992 | -5.3% | -28.8% |
| 1993 | -0.6% | -89.4% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | -1586.0% |
| 1995 | 10.7% | +29.6% |
| 1996 | 9.0% | -15.7% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | -36.3% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | -17.0% |
| 1999 | -7.6% | -259.4% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -150.9% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -26.3% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | +193.1% |
| 2004 | 12.9% | +25.8% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | -6.8% |
| 2009 | -6.7% | -152.1% |
| 2010 | -3.9% | -41.4% |
| 2011 | 6.8% | -274.9% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -74.3% |
| 2013 | 5.4% | +204.9% |
| 2014 | -1.3% | -124.6% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | -202.5% |
| 2016 | -1.9% | -243.2% |
| 2017 | -2.0% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | -1.2% | -40.3% |
| 2019 | -1.7% | +43.6% |
| 2020 | -14.8% | +747.3% |
| 2021 | -0.3% | -97.8% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -1870.9% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -48.5% |
| 2024 | -3.9% | -228.6% |
| 2025 | -2.2% | -43.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.9% | -2.3% | 19.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.7% | -6.0% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | -18.6% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | -7.6% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | -6.7% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | -3.9% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.1% | -14.8% | 5.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 137 Seychelles -0.7% compare
- 138 Botswana -1.2% compare
- 139 Saudi Arabia -1.7% compare
- 141 Bangladesh -2.5% compare
- 142 Hungary -2.8% compare
- 143 Georgia -2.8% 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2409 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 28,432 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross fixed capital formation in South Africa?
- Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa was -2.2% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest gross fixed capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 1964.
- What is the lowest gross fixed capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -18.6% in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for gross fixed capital formation?
- South Africa ranks 140th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross fixed capital formation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 263.6%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Gross fixed capital formation (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Gross fixed capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of fixed assets during the accounting period, including certain specified expenditures on services that add to the value of non-produced assets. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.