Central government spending as share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Central government spending as share of GDP was 33.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in South Africa, 1972–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in South Africa is 33.4%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 37.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 1973.
That places South Africa 45th out of 157 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 15.5% | — |
| 1973 | 15.1% | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 16.0% | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 17.6% | +9.8% |
| 1976 | 18.5% | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 18.9% | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 19.3% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 17.7% | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 18.7% | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 20.7% | +10.7% |
| 1983 | 22.4% | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 22.6% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 24.0% | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 25.2% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 25.4% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 25.7% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 25.0% | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 24.9% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 27.9% | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 29.2% | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 25.8% | -11.5% |
| 1995 | 26.1% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 27.0% | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 25.8% | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 25.7% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 25.3% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 24.3% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 23.7% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 24.8% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 25.6% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 25.6% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 25.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 26.1% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 27.2% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 29.1% | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 29.6% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 30.4% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 31.3% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 33.7% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 32.2% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 33.3% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 34.0% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 34.7% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 37.8% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 33.4% | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.5% | 15.1% | 19.3% | 8 |
| 1980s | 22.8% | 17.7% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.3% | 24.9% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 23.7% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.2% | 29.6% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.3% | 33.4% | 37.8% | 3 |
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)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 4,161 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 11.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 74,434 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5809 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in South Africa?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in South Africa was 33.4% in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 1973.
- How does South Africa rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 45th out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.