Gross national expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Gross national expenditure was 4.79 trillion constant LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross national expenditure in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in constant LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, gross national expenditure in South Africa stood at 4.79 trillion constant LCU. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross national expenditure in South Africa peaked at 4.79 trillion constant LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 612.40 billion constant LCU, in 1960.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross national expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 612.40 billion constant LCU | — |
| 1961 | 628.82 billion constant LCU | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 653.55 billion constant LCU | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 714.74 billion constant LCU | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 785.63 billion constant LCU | +9.9% |
| 1965 | 836.84 billion constant LCU | +6.5% |
| 1966 | 856.03 billion constant LCU | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 918.48 billion constant LCU | +7.3% |
| 1968 | 964.48 billion constant LCU | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 1.04 trillion constant LCU | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 1.13 trillion constant LCU | +9.0% |
| 1971 | 1.21 trillion constant LCU | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 1.21 trillion constant LCU | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 1.31 trillion constant LCU | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 1.41 trillion constant LCU | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 1.48 trillion constant LCU | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 1.47 trillion constant LCU | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 1.46 trillion constant LCU | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 1.46 trillion constant LCU | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 1.53 trillion constant LCU | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.73 trillion constant LCU | +13.2% |
| 1981 | 1.85 trillion constant LCU | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.80 trillion constant LCU | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.86 trillion constant LCU | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 1.93 trillion constant LCU | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 1.84 trillion constant LCU | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.81 trillion constant LCU | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 1.86 trillion constant LCU | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 1.99 trillion constant LCU | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 2.05 trillion constant LCU | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 2.06 trillion constant LCU | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2.06 trillion constant LCU | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 2.03 trillion constant LCU | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 2.06 trillion constant LCU | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 2.17 trillion constant LCU | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 2.27 trillion constant LCU | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 2.35 trillion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 2.42 trillion constant LCU | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.45 trillion constant LCU | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.47 trillion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 2.56 trillion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 2.64 trillion constant LCU | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.75 trillion constant LCU | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 2.88 trillion constant LCU | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 3.10 trillion constant LCU | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 3.26 trillion constant LCU | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 3.54 trillion constant LCU | +8.5% |
| 2007 | 3.78 trillion constant LCU | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 3.93 trillion constant LCU | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 3.81 trillion constant LCU | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.95 trillion constant LCU | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 4.16 trillion constant LCU | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 4.28 trillion constant LCU | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 4.39 trillion constant LCU | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 4.40 trillion constant LCU | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 4.48 trillion constant LCU | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 4.45 trillion constant LCU | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.51 trillion constant LCU | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.60 trillion constant LCU | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 4.66 trillion constant LCU | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 4.28 trillion constant LCU | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 4.51 trillion constant LCU | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 4.70 trillion constant LCU | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 4.71 trillion constant LCU | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 4.68 trillion constant LCU | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 4.79 trillion constant LCU | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 801.13 billion constant LCU | 612.40 billion constant LCU | 1.04 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.37 trillion constant LCU | 1.13 trillion constant LCU | 1.53 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.87 trillion constant LCU | 1.73 trillion constant LCU | 2.05 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.24 trillion constant LCU | 2.03 trillion constant LCU | 2.47 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.23 trillion constant LCU | 2.56 trillion constant LCU | 3.93 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.39 trillion constant LCU | 3.95 trillion constant LCU | 4.66 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.61 trillion constant LCU | 4.28 trillion constant LCU | 4.79 trillion constant LCU | 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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,111 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 2.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14,168 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross national expenditure in South Africa?
- Gross national expenditure in South Africa was 4.79 trillion constant LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross national expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.79 trillion constant LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest gross national expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 612.40 billion constant LCU in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for gross national expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross national expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. 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 Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Gross national expenditure (constant LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross national expenditure is the sum of household final consumption expenditure, general government final consumption expenditure, and gross capital formation. This indicator is expressed in constant prices, meaning the series has been adjusted to account for price changes over time. The reference year for this adjustment varies by country. This series is expressed in local currency units.