Inflation, GDP deflator in South Africa
South Africa: Inflation, GDP deflator was 2.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Inflation, GDP deflator in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inflation, gdp deflator in South Africa is 2.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 28.8% on the previous year and down 49.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inflation, gdp deflator in South Africa peaked at 23.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1962.
That places South Africa 130th out of 214 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, GDP deflator in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.6% | — |
| 1962 | 0.2% | -88.1% |
| 1963 | 3.0% | +1532.6% |
| 1964 | 2.0% | -31.8% |
| 1965 | 3.0% | +46.6% |
| 1966 | 4.1% | +37.2% |
| 1967 | 3.9% | -6.4% |
| 1968 | 3.9% | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 7.4% | +88.3% |
| 1970 | 4.7% | -36.5% |
| 1971 | 5.9% | +26.7% |
| 1972 | 10.7% | +80.4% |
| 1973 | 17.1% | +59.7% |
| 1974 | 14.8% | -13.5% |
| 1975 | 10.9% | -26.1% |
| 1976 | 10.3% | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 10.3% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 10.5% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 14.0% | +32.7% |
| 1980 | 23.0% | +65.1% |
| 1981 | 11.4% | -50.5% |
| 1982 | 14.6% | +27.6% |
| 1983 | 17.1% | +17.3% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | -34.7% |
| 1985 | 16.1% | +44.8% |
| 1986 | 16.7% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 14.8% | -10.9% |
| 1988 | 15.4% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 17.1% | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 15.4% | -9.6% |
| 1991 | 15.7% | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 14.7% | -6.0% |
| 1993 | 13.4% | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 9.8% | -26.6% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -26.0% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | -14.7% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | +33.3% |
| 2001 | 7.8% | -15.0% |
| 2002 | 12.5% | +60.7% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | -49.0% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | +36.0% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +10.4% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | -29.3% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | -9.6% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -15.4% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | +24.7% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 7.0% | +25.4% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | -21.3% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -27.0% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | +15.5% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +18.9% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -9.9% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -17.1% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | -28.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.2% | 0.2% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.9% | 4.7% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.7% | 11.2% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.1% | 6.9% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 5.6% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.0% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 2.8% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 128 Northern Mariana Islands 2.8% compare
- 129 United States of America 2.8% compare
- 131 Greece 2.8% compare
- 132 Barbados 2.7% compare
- 133 Palestine, State of 2.7% compare
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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.7139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1196 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 789.38 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.295 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,946 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inflation, gdp deflator in South Africa?
- Inflation, gdp deflator in South Africa was 2.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest inflation, gdp deflator recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest inflation, gdp deflator recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for inflation, gdp deflator?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inflation, gdp deflator rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.7%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Inflation as measured by the annual growth rate of the GDP implicit deflator shows the rate of price change in the economy as a whole. The GDP implicit deflator is the ratio of GDP in current local currency to GDP in constant local currency.