Gross public investment in South Africa
South Africa: Gross public investment was 7.1% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Gross public investment in South Africa, 1965–2011
Source: World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 7.1% for gross public investment in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.3% on the previous year and up 183.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross public investment in South Africa peaked at 9.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1965.
That places South Africa 27th out of 49 countries with data for 2011, 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 public investment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | — |
| 1967 | 0.0% | — |
| 1968 | 0.0% | — |
| 1969 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 6.4% | — |
| 1981 | 7.0% | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 7.2% | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 6.3% | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 5.6% | -12.2% |
| 1985 | 5.6% | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | -9.2% |
| 1987 | 4.5% | -11.8% |
| 1988 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | -15.3% |
| 1991 | 3.5% | -11.2% |
| 1992 | 2.9% | -17.6% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | -12.0% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +9.0% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +56.2% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | +22.1% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +30.8% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -16.6% |
| 2011 | 7.1% | -7.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.7%, 56% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.9%, 90% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.7% | 4.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 2.5% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 7.1% | 7.7% | 2 |
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross public investment in South Africa?
- Gross public investment in South Africa was 7.1% in 2011, according to World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.
- What is the highest gross public investment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest gross public investment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for gross public investment?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 49 countries with data for 2011.
- Is gross public investment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 183.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files, published as part of Gross public investment (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross public investment (see definition below) as a percentage of GDP (%) . Public sectors’ gross domestic fixed investment (gross fixed capital formation) comprises all additions to the stocks of fixed assets (purchases and own-account capital formation), less any sales of second-hand and scrapped fixed assets measured at constant prices, done by government units and non-financial public enterprises. Most outlays by government on military equipment are excluded. According to 1993 SNA are outlays on weapons and equipment with no alternative civil use treated as intermediate consumption, and part of governments consumption expenditure.