Gross fixed capital formation, private sector in South Africa
South Africa: Gross fixed capital formation, private sector was 11.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross fixed capital formation, private sector 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, private sector in South Africa is 11.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross fixed capital formation, private sector in South Africa peaked at 18.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 1962.
That places South Africa 81st out of 106 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, private sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.0% | — |
| 1961 | 10.5% | -4.6% |
| 1962 | 10.0% | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 11.2% | +12.3% |
| 1964 | 12.8% | +14.3% |
| 1965 | 13.6% | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 13.1% | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 12.7% | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 12.4% | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 12.8% | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 14.3% | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 14.4% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 14.1% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 14.7% | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 14.9% | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 17.2% | +14.8% |
| 1976 | 17.0% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 16.7% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 16.7% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 17.1% | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 18.3% | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 18.9% | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 18.6% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 18.1% | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 17.0% | -6.1% |
| 1985 | 15.9% | -6.3% |
| 1986 | 13.6% | -14.3% |
| 1987 | 12.6% | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 14.0% | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 14.6% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 12.0% | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 11.4% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 12.0% | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 13.2% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 13.6% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 12.1% | -10.5% |
| 2000 | 11.7% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 11.8% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 11.5% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 12.0% | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 12.5% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 14.5% | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 15.0% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 14.5% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 14.0% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 13.1% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 12.8% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 10.8% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 12.0% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 11.5% | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.0% | 10.0% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.7% | 14.1% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.2% | 12.6% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 11.4% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 11.5% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 12.8% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.6% | 10.8% | 12.4% | 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross fixed capital formation, private sector in South Africa?
- Gross fixed capital formation, private sector in South Africa was 11.5% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross fixed capital formation, private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 1981.
- What is the lowest gross fixed capital formation, private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for gross fixed capital formation, private sector?
- South Africa ranks 81st out of 106 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross fixed capital formation, private sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. 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, private sector (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Private investment covers outlays by the private sector (including private nonprofit agencies) on additions to its fixed domestic assets. 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.