Tax revenue as share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 28.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Tax revenue as share of GDP in South Africa, 1990–2016
Source: OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2016, tax revenue as share of gdp in South Africa stood at 28.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 28.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 34th of 77 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.9% | — |
| 1991 | 22.5% | -5.6% |
| 1992 | 21.2% | -6.0% |
| 1993 | 21.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 21.7% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 21.6% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 22.6% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 23.5% | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 23.5% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 22.4% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 23.7% | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 23.9% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 22.7% | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 23.7% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 25.5% | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 26.9% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 26.8% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 25.1% | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 25.4% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 26.4% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 27.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 27.6% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.4% | 21.2% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.6% | 22.4% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 24.8% | 28.9% | 7 |
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)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 37,072 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,531 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in South Africa?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in South Africa was 28.6% in 2016, according to OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 77 countries with data for 2016.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The level of total tax revenues as a percentage of GDP. Total tax include sub-national revenues, and compulsory social security contributions paid to the general government.