Gross national expenditure (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Gross national expenditure (current LCU) was 7.53 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
7.53 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
63rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
7.53 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
5.48 billion current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Gross national expenditure in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross national expenditure in South Africa is 7.53 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 68.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross national expenditure in South Africa peaked at 7.53 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.48 billion current LCU, in 1960.
That places South Africa 63rd out of 186 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 (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.48 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 5.66 billion current LCU | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 5.97 billion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1963 | 6.78 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1964 | 7.68 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1965 | 8.48 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1966 | 9.01 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 10.12 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1968 | 10.93 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 1969 | 12.46 billion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 1970 | 14.30 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 1971 | 16.45 billion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1972 | 17.65 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 20.92 billion current LCU | +18.5% |
| 1974 | 25.86 billion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 1975 | 31.52 billion current LCU | +21.9% |
| 1976 | 35.18 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1977 | 38.42 billion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 42.39 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 49.98 billion current LCU | +17.9% |
| 1980 | 66.84 billion current LCU | +33.8% |
| 1981 | 83.26 billion current LCU | +24.6% |
| 1982 | 91.30 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 106.25 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1984 | 123.69 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1985 | 136.76 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1986 | 160.47 billion current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1987 | 186.50 billion current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1988 | 232.38 billion current LCU | +24.6% |
| 1989 | 280.58 billion current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1990 | 326.31 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1991 | 373.95 billion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 1992 | 413.66 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 462.23 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 1994 | 540.32 billion current LCU | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 616.22 billion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 1996 | 691.51 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 771.54 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 838.15 billion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 911.92 billion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 1.02 trillion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 1.13 trillion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 1.29 trillion current LCU | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 1.41 trillion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 1.61 trillion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 2005 | 1.77 trillion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 2.01 trillion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 2.32 trillion current LCU | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 2.65 trillion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 2.75 trillion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 2.99 trillion current LCU | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 3.33 trillion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 3.63 trillion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 3.95 trillion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 4.20 trillion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 4.48 trillion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 4.74 trillion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 5.02 trillion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 5.34 trillion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 5.60 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 5.32 trillion current LCU | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 5.82 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 6.52 trillion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 6.95 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 7.20 trillion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 7.53 trillion current LCU | +4.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.53 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.71 trillion current LCU, 4.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.53 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.53 trillion current LCU, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.26 billion current LCU | 5.48 billion current LCU | 12.46 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.27 billion current LCU | 14.30 billion current LCU | 49.98 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 146.80 billion current LCU | 66.84 billion current LCU | 280.58 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 594.58 billion current LCU | 326.31 billion current LCU | 911.92 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.80 trillion current LCU | 1.02 trillion current LCU | 2.75 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.33 trillion current LCU | 2.99 trillion current LCU | 5.60 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.56 trillion current LCU | 5.32 trillion current LCU | 7.53 trillion current 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross national expenditure in South Africa?
- Gross national expenditure in South Africa was 7.53 trillion current 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 7.53 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest gross national expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.48 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for gross national expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross national expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.2%. 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 (current 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 current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.