Data / Government balance / South Africa

Government balance in South Africa

Government balance in South Africa was -4.4% of GDP in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is up 0.7 pts from 2024. That is the 29th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

2025, % of GDP-4.4
Change on 2024+0.7 pts
Rank29th of 38Countries ranked
Series high0.52007
Series low-10.52020

Government balance in South Africa, 1995 to 2025

-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.502.519952000200520102015202020251995: -4 % of GDP1996: -5 % of GDP1997: -5 % of GDP1998: -3.8 % of GDP1999: -2.7 % of GDP2000: -3 % of GDP2001: -1.9 % of GDP2002: -2.5 % of GDP2003: -3.3 % of GDP2004: -3.4 % of GDP2005: -1 % of GDP2006: 0.4 % of GDP2007: 0.5 % of GDP2008: -2.2 % of GDP2009: -3.9 % of GDP2010: -3.1 % of GDP2011: -3.4 % of GDP2012: -4 % of GDP2013: -3.7 % of GDP2014: -4 % of GDP2015: -3.7 % of GDP2016: -4 % of GDP2017: -4.3 % of GDP2018: -3.7 % of GDP2019: -5.1 % of GDP2020: -10.5 % of GDP2021: -6.7 % of GDP2022: -5.1 % of GDP2023: -6.1 % of GDP2024: -5.1 % of GDP2025: -4.4 % of GDP
% of GDP. Source: OECD, OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2026-10-12.
All 31 values
Period% of GDP
2025-4.4
2024-5.1
2023-6.1
2022-5.1
2021-6.7
2020-10.5
2019-5.1
2018-3.7
2017-4.3
2016-4
2015-3.7
2014-4
2013-3.7
2012-4
2011-3.4
2010-3.1
2009-3.9
2008-2.2
20070.5
20060.4
2005-1
2004-3.4
2003-3.3
2002-2.5
2001-1.9
2000-3
1999-2.7
1998-3.8
1997-5
1996-5
1995-4

Rankings

Definition

General government net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) as a percentage of GDP.

How to cite

OECD. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_NAAG_VI%40DF_NAAG_VI&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.NAD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html

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Questions

What is the government balance as a share of GDP in South Africa?

Government balance in South Africa was -4.4% of GDP in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is up 0.7 pts from 2024. That is the 29th highest of 38 countries in 2024.

Where does this figure come from?

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, B9S13). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.

What was the highest government balance as a share of GDP in South Africa?

0.5% of GDP in 2007, the highest value since 1995 in this series.

Government balance in other countries

Related statistics for South Africa

All statistics for South Africa