Gross savings in South Africa
South Africa: Gross savings was 13.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross savings in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross savings in South Africa is 13.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross savings in South Africa peaked at 33.3% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 2025.
That places South Africa 150th out of 178 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 savings in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28.9% | — |
| 1961 | 29.8% | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 30.2% | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 31.8% | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 30.4% | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 31.3% | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 31.3% | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 33.0% | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 31.4% | -4.9% |
| 1969 | 30.7% | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 28.7% | -6.5% |
| 1971 | 27.1% | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 27.9% | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 31.3% | +12.3% |
| 1974 | 33.3% | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 27.5% | -17.3% |
| 1976 | 26.7% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 27.0% | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 27.5% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 28.9% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 31.3% | +8.5% |
| 1981 | 27.4% | -12.6% |
| 1982 | 24.2% | -11.6% |
| 1983 | 23.2% | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 22.0% | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 22.1% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 20.8% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 18.9% | -9.2% |
| 1988 | 18.9% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 19.6% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 15.0% | -23.2% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 15.1% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 16.1% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 17.0% | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 16.0% | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 15.1% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 15.2% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | +20.8% |
| 2003 | 18.8% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 17.7% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 13.8% | -16.0% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 14.6% | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | +16.1% |
| 2022 | 15.7% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 14.9% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 13.9% | -7.1% |
| 2025 | 13.2% | -5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.9% | 28.9% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.6% | 26.7% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.8% | 18.9% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 14.7% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 15.2% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 13.6% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 13.2% | 16.9% | 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)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 37,072 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,531 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross savings in South Africa?
- Gross savings in South Africa was 13.2% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest gross savings recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.3% in 1974.
- What is the lowest gross savings recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for gross savings?
- South Africa ranks 150th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross savings rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Gross savings (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Savings is an amount that represents the part of disposable income (adjusted for the change in pension entitlements) that is not spent on final consumption. Gross savings are calculated as gross national income less total consumption, plus net transfers. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) which is the total income earned by all residents within an economic territory during an accounting period. It is equal to gross domestic product plus earned income receivable from abroad minus earned income payable abroad.