General government total expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: General government total expenditure was 2.59 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.59 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
59th
of 195 countries
All-time high
2.59 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
0 current LCU
in 1980
Years of data
46
1980–2025
General government total expenditure in South Africa, 1980–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.59 trillion current LCU for general government total expenditure in 2025. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 94.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government total expenditure in South Africa peaked at 2.59 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 current LCU, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 59th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government total expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1981 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1982 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1983 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1984 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1985 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1986 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1987 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1988 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1989 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1990 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1991 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1992 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1993 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1994 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1995 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1996 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1997 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1998 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 1999 | 0 current LCU | — |
| 2000 | 238.50 billion current LCU | — |
| 2001 | 263.74 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2002 | 302.25 billion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 2003 | 337.11 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 375.23 billion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2005 | 461.83 billion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 2006 | 507.54 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 573.25 billion current LCU | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 679.25 billion current LCU | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 795.17 billion current LCU | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 865.98 billion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 934.22 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 1.02 trillion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 1.12 trillion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 1.21 trillion current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 1.33 trillion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 1.42 trillion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 1.52 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 1.62 trillion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 1.77 trillion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 1.93 trillion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 2.03 trillion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 2.13 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 2.28 trillion current LCU | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 2.42 trillion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2025 | 2.59 trillion current LCU | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 0 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 453.39 billion current LCU | 238.50 billion current LCU | 795.17 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.28 trillion current LCU | 865.98 billion current LCU | 1.77 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.23 trillion current LCU | 1.93 trillion current LCU | 2.59 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is general government total expenditure in South Africa?
- General government total expenditure in South Africa was 2.59 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest general government total expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.59 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest general government total expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 current LCU in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for general government total expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government total expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of General government total expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release