Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa
South Africa: Gross fixed capital formation was 13.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross fixed capital formation 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 fixed capital formation in South Africa is 13.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross fixed capital formation in South Africa peaked at 29.2% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 162nd out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Gross fixed capital formation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 17.5% | — |
| 1961 | 16.8% | -3.8% |
| 1962 | 16.2% | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 18.2% | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 19.7% | +8.4% |
| 1965 | 22.0% | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 21.4% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 20.3% | -5.5% |
| 1968 | 19.9% | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 20.3% | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 22.4% | +10.8% |
| 1971 | 23.8% | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 24.6% | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 23.6% | -3.9% |
| 1974 | 23.7% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 28.2% | +19.0% |
| 1976 | 29.2% | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 28.3% | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 25.9% | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 25.8% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 26.4% | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 27.3% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 27.1% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 25.9% | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 23.6% | -8.9% |
| 1985 | 23.0% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 20.4% | -11.3% |
| 1987 | 18.4% | -10.1% |
| 1988 | 19.6% | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 20.9% | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 19.6% | -6.3% |
| 1991 | 17.9% | -9.0% |
| 1992 | 16.4% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 14.7% | -9.9% |
| 1994 | 15.0% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 15.7% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 15.8% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 16.2% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 16.5% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 14.8% | -10.1% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 14.4% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 14.7% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 15.2% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | +9.4% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 21.6% | +13.6% |
| 2009 | 19.5% | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 18.6% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 18.0% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 15.5% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 13.1% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 14.2% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 14.9% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 13.9% | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.2% | 16.2% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.5% | 22.4% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.3% | 18.4% | 27.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 14.7% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.6% | 14.0% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 15.5% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 13.1% | 14.9% | 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)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,013 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.986 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 6,505 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 17.64 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 116,367 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.43 % 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 13.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross fixed capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.2% in 1976.
- What is the lowest gross fixed capital formation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for gross fixed capital formation?
- South Africa ranks 162nd out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross fixed capital formation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. 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 fixed capital formation (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 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.