Gross national expenditure (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Gross national expenditure (current US$) was 2.71 trillion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross national expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1982–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, gross national expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 2.71 trillion current US$. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 50.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross national expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 2.71 trillion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 242.50 billion current US$, in 1985.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross national expenditure (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 296.35 billion current US$ | — |
| 1983 | 306.56 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 284.77 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 1985 | 242.50 billion current US$ | -14.8% |
| 1986 | 287.74 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1987 | 347.57 billion current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1988 | 377.90 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 395.15 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 470.38 billion current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1991 | 501.14 billion current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 458.23 billion current US$ | -8.6% |
| 1993 | 449.88 billion current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 443.14 billion current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 505.01 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1996 | 516.86 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 534.61 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 527.25 billion current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 520.59 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 529.85 billion current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 492.20 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 498.85 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 654.08 billion current US$ | +31.1% |
| 2004 | 808.00 billion current US$ | +23.5% |
| 2005 | 918.77 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 2006 | 1.03 trillion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2007 | 1.20 trillion current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2008 | 1.34 trillion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 1.37 trillion current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 1.56 trillion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2011 | 1.75 trillion current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 1.82 trillion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 1.93 trillion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 1.97 trillion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.80 trillion current US$ | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 1.68 trillion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 1.91 trillion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 2.02 trillion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 2.03 trillion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 1.91 trillion current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 2.20 trillion current US$ | +15.3% |
| 2022 | 2.38 trillion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 2.39 trillion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 2.52 trillion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 2.71 trillion current US$ | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 317.32 billion current US$ | 242.50 billion current US$ | 395.15 billion current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 492.71 billion current US$ | 443.14 billion current US$ | 534.61 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 885.11 billion current US$ | 492.20 billion current US$ | 1.37 trillion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 trillion current US$ | 1.56 trillion current US$ | 2.03 trillion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.35 trillion current US$ | 1.91 trillion current US$ | 2.71 trillion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 28 Philippines 553.78 billion current US$ compare
- 29 Bangladesh 486.27 billion current US$ compare
- 30 Colombia 482.11 billion current US$ compare
- 31 Vietnam 480.64 billion current US$ compare
- 32 Norway 468.69 billion current US$ compare
- 33 Romania 451.17 billion current US$ compare
- 34 Malaysia 446.04 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 23.52 units per person (2025)
- SDR Allocation, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Lending to the IMF (GRA), SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, per capita 17.18 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0103 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -9.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 12.01 units per person (2025)
- SDR Allocation, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0154 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross national expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Gross national expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.71 trillion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross national expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.71 trillion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest gross national expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 242.50 billion current US$ in 1985.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for gross national expenditure?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is gross national expenditure rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.