Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of GDP was 5.3% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Latest (2017)
5.3%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
18th
of 163 countries
All-time high
8.4%
in 1980
All-time low
3.6%
in 1999
Years of data
32
1980–2017
Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of GDP in South Africa, 1980–2017
Source: International Centre for Tax and Development and UNU-WIDER (2019) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp in South Africa is 5.3%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 8.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1999.
That places South Africa 18th out of 163 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.4% | — |
| 1981 | 6.4% | -24.2% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 5.2% | -13.1% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | -6.5% |
| 1985 | 6.0% | +22.3% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 4.8% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 4.9% | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | -28.8% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | -10.5% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | +16.2% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | +30.0% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | +12.6% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -23.1% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 5.8% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 5.5% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 5.3% | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.8%, 1.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.0%, 2.7× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.7% | 4.8% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 6.2% | 4.1% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 15 Cuba 5.5% compare
- 16 Tuvalu 5.5% compare
- 17 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 5.5% compare
- 19 Luxembourg 5.2% compare
- 20 Namibia 4.9% compare
- 21 Solomon Islands 4.9% 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)
- 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 revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp in South Africa was 5.3% in 2017, according to International Centre for Tax and Development and UNU-WIDER (2019) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 1980.
- What is the lowest revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 163 countries with data for 2017.
- Is revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Centre for Tax and Development and UNU-WIDER (2019) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Revenue from corporate income taxes as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Corporate income taxes include natural resources taxes.