Share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa
South Africa: Share of central government spending funded by taxes was 70.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa stood at 70.9%.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa peaked at 83.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 57.1%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 39th out of 174 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.8% | — |
| 2001 | 78.1% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 75.2% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 72.8% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 74.2% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 78.5% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 83.5% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 79.6% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 76.9% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 61.9% | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 67.3% | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 64.6% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 67.4% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 59.8% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 60.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 64.7% | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 67.1% | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 66.1% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 65.7% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 64.3% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 57.1% | -11.1% |
| 2021 | 66.8% | +16.9% |
| 2022 | 70.9% | +6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 75.5% | 61.9% | 83.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.7% | 59.8% | 67.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.9% | 57.1% | 70.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 36 Chile 71.2% compare
- 37 Dominican Republic 71.0% compare
- 38 Burundi 70.9% compare
- 39 Thailand 70.9% compare
- 41 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 70.6% compare
- 42 Mozambique 70.6% 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 share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa?
- Share of central government spending funded by taxes in South Africa was 70.9% in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of central government spending funded by taxes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 83.5% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of central government spending funded by taxes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.1% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of central government spending funded by taxes?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 174 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of central government spending funded by taxes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of central government spending funded by taxes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Spending refers to the budgetary central government which includes the core institutions of the national government. Funds only include taxes; Fines, penalties, and most social security contributions are excluded.