Government consumption (% of GDP) in South Africa in 2025 — 18.9%. Ranked 44 in the world out of 132. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 10.8 pp.
1960–2025 · % of GDP
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18.9 | −0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 19.2 | +0 pp |
| 2023 | 19.2 | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 18.8 | −0.3 pp |
| 2021 | 19.1 | −1.5 pp |
| 2020 | 20.6 | +1 pp |
| 2019 | 19.6 | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 19.4 | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 19.2 | −0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 19.3 | +0.3 pp |
| 2015 | 19 | −0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 19.3 | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 19.1 | +0.3 pp |
| 2012 | 18.8 | +0.6 pp |
| 2011 | 18.2 | +0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 18 | +0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 17.8 | +0.7 pp |
| 2008 | 17.1 | +1.2 pp |
| 2007 | 15.9 | +0 pp |
| 2006 | 15.9 | −0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 16.1 | −0.9 pp |
| 2004 | 17 | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 16.9 | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 16.8 | +0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 16.6 | +0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 16.6 | −0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 16.8 | −0.3 pp |
| 1998 | 17.1 | −0.4 pp |
| 1997 | 17.5 | +0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 17.4 | +0.9 pp |
| 1995 | 16.5 | −1.7 pp |
| 1994 | 18.2 | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 18.1 | +0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 17.9 | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 17.7 | +0.1 pp |
| 1990 | 17.6 | +0.8 pp |
| 1989 | 16.8 | −0 pp |
| 1988 | 16.8 | −0.6 pp |
| 1987 | 17.4 | +0.6 pp |
| 1986 | 16.8 | +0.5 pp |
| 1985 | 16.3 | +0.4 pp |
| 1984 | 15.9 | +1.5 pp |
| 1983 | 14.4 | −0.4 pp |
| 1982 | 14.8 | +1.5 pp |
| 1981 | 13.3 | +0.5 pp |
| 1980 | 12.8 | −0.6 pp |
| 1979 | 13.4 | +0.1 pp |
| 1978 | 13.3 | +0.8 pp |
| 1977 | 12.5 | −0.3 pp |
| 1976 | 12.8 | +0.7 pp |
| 1975 | 12 | +1.3 pp |
| 1974 | 10.7 | +0.4 pp |
| 1973 | 10.3 | −0.7 pp |
| 1972 | 11 | −0.6 pp |
| 1971 | 11.7 | +0.9 pp |
| 1970 | 10.8 | +0.4 pp |
| 1969 | 10.3 | +0.2 pp |
| 1968 | 10.1 | +0.3 pp |
| 1967 | 9.8 | −0.2 pp |
| 1966 | 10 | +0.1 pp |
| 1965 | 9.9 | +0.2 pp |
| 1964 | 9.7 | +0.8 pp |
| 1963 | 8.9 | −0.4 pp |
| 1962 | 9.2 | +0.9 pp |
| 1961 | 8.4 | +0.3 pp |
| 1960 | 8.1 | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.
Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.
How much the state spends on running itself: public sector wages, purchases, defense.
Economy Household consumption (% of GDP)What share of GDP is made up of household final consumption spending.
Public Finance Tax revenue (% of GDP)Taxes collected as a percent of GDP — the fiscal capacity of the state.
Public Finance Government debtGross general government debt as a percent of GDP.
