Inflation, consumer prices in South Africa
South Africa: Inflation, consumer prices was 3.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Inflation, consumer prices in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inflation, consumer prices in South Africa is 3.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 26.5% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inflation, consumer prices in South Africa peaked at 18.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -0.7%, in 2004.
That places South Africa 95th out of 192 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.
Inflation, consumer prices in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.3% | — |
| 1961 | 2.1% | +63.1% |
| 1962 | 1.2% | -40.7% |
| 1963 | 1.3% | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +89.5% |
| 1965 | 4.1% | +60.5% |
| 1966 | 3.5% | -14.2% |
| 1967 | 3.5% | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 2.0% | -43.9% |
| 1969 | 3.2% | +63.0% |
| 1970 | 5.0% | +54.2% |
| 1971 | 6.0% | +19.3% |
| 1972 | 6.4% | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 9.4% | +46.8% |
| 1974 | 11.7% | +24.3% |
| 1975 | 13.4% | +14.5% |
| 1976 | 11.0% | -17.9% |
| 1977 | 11.2% | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 11.1% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 13.3% | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 13.7% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 15.3% | +11.7% |
| 1982 | 14.6% | -4.0% |
| 1983 | 12.3% | -16.0% |
| 1984 | 11.5% | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 16.3% | +41.4% |
| 1986 | 18.7% | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 16.2% | -13.4% |
| 1988 | 12.8% | -20.9% |
| 1989 | 14.7% | +15.3% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 13.9% | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 9.7% | -30.0% |
| 1994 | 8.9% | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | -15.3% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | +16.9% |
| 1998 | 6.9% | -20.0% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | -24.7% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | +66.5% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | -40.2% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | -112.2% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -398.1% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +57.3% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +90.4% |
| 2008 | 9.9% | +60.4% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -43.8% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +22.9% |
| 2012 | 5.7% | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | -26.3% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | +46.1% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -21.5% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | -13.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -21.2% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +42.9% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | +52.4% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | -13.7% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | -28.2% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | -26.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 1.2% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.9% | 5.0% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.6% | 11.5% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.9% | 5.2% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | -0.7% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 4.1% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 3.2% | 7.0% | 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1225 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 808.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.19 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 14,463 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0949 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 626.22 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inflation, consumer prices in South Africa?
- Inflation, consumer prices in South Africa was 3.2% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest inflation, consumer prices recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest inflation, consumer prices recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.7% in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for inflation, consumer prices?
- South Africa ranks 95th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inflation, consumer prices rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Inflation, consumer prices (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly.