Inflation of consumer prices in South Africa
South Africa: Inflation of consumer prices was 3.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Inflation of consumer prices in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Financial Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, inflation of consumer prices in South Africa stood at 3.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.5% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inflation of consumer prices in South Africa peaked at 18.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -0.7%, in 2004.
That places South Africa 93rd out of 190 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 of 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 (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2409 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 28,432 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inflation of consumer prices in South Africa?
- Inflation of consumer prices in South Africa was 3.2% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Financial Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest inflation of consumer prices recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest inflation of consumer prices recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.7% in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for inflation of consumer prices?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inflation of 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 Monetary Fund (IMF) International Financial Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Inflation of consumer prices. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual changes in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a set basket of goods and services. This measure is used to track changes in living costs over time.