Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in South Africa
South Africa: Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index was 0.743 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.743
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
42nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.779
in 2006
All-time low
0.156
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in South Africa stood at 0.743.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in South Africa peaked at 0.779 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.156, in 1900.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.156 | — |
| 1901 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.186 | +19.2% |
| 1911 | 0.225 | +21.0% |
| 1912 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.224 | -0.4% |
| 1917 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.225 | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.225 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.226 | +0.4% |
| 1930 | 0.227 | +0.4% |
| 1931 | 0.231 | +1.8% |
| 1932 | 0.236 | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 0.235 | -0.4% |
| 1934 | 0.234 | -0.4% |
| 1935 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.235 | +0.4% |
| 1939 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.231 | -1.7% |
| 1948 | 0.207 | -10.4% |
| 1949 | 0.201 | -2.9% |
| 1950 | 0.199 | -1.0% |
| 1951 | 0.199 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.199 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.196 | -1.5% |
| 1954 | 0.195 | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.191 | -2.1% |
| 1961 | 0.16 | -16.2% |
| 1962 | 0.167 | +4.4% |
| 1963 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.163 | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.164 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.165 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.163 | -1.2% |
| 1978 | 0.161 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 0.161 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.16 | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 0.176 | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.177 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 0.178 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 0.178 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.176 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 0.175 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 0.186 | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 0.224 | +20.4% |
| 1991 | 0.254 | +13.4% |
| 1992 | 0.254 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.264 | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 0.392 | +48.5% |
| 1995 | 0.657 | +67.6% |
| 1996 | 0.663 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 0.663 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.668 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.709 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 0.743 | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 0.743 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.743 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.743 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.764 | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 0.778 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 0.779 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.775 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.778 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 0.777 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0.779 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.765 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 0.758 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 0.755 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 0.752 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.738 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 0.747 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.727 | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 0.719 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 0.725 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.718 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.712 | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 0.734 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 0.743 | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.156 | 0.156 | 0.156 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2207 | 0.186 | 0.225 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.2251 | 0.225 | 0.226 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2335 | 0.227 | 0.236 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2284 | 0.201 | 0.235 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1963 | 0.195 | 0.199 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1667 | 0.16 | 0.191 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.164 | 0.161 | 0.165 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1758 | 0.16 | 0.186 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4748 | 0.224 | 0.709 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7622 | 0.743 | 0.779 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7576 | 0.727 | 0.779 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7252 | 0.712 | 0.743 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Seychelles 0.76 compare
- 40 Cape Verde 0.745 compare
- 40 Italy 0.745 compare
- 43 Greece 0.741 compare
- 44 Mauritius 0.738 compare
- 45 Timor-Leste 0.736 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)
- 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 vs. electoral democracy index in South Africa?
- Tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in South Africa was 0.743 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.779 in 2006.
- What is the lowest tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.156 in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.