South Africa Government Expenditure (% of GDP) (2022)
South Africa's Government Expenditure (% of GDP): 33.4 % of GDP in 2022, -1.2pp YoY. World Bank (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), 1973–2022.
South Africa (2022)
33.4
% of GDP
-1.2pp YoY
YoY Change
-1.2pp
percentage points
Trend
down
Series length
50
years of data
Data
| Year | % of GDP | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33.4 | -1.2pp |
| 2021 | 34.6 | -3.2pp |
| 2020 | 37.8 | +3.1pp |
| 2019 | 34.7 | +0.7pp |
| 2018 | 34 | +0.7pp |
| 2017 | 33.3 | +1.1pp |
| 2016 | 32.2 | -1.5pp |
| 2015 | 33.7 | +1.8pp |
| 2014 | 31.9 | +0.6pp |
| 2013 | 31.3 | +0.9pp |
| 2012 | 30.4 | -0.7pp |
| 2011 | 31.1 | +1.5pp |
| 2010 | 29.6 | +0.5pp |
| 2009 | 29.1 | +1.9pp |
| 2008 | 27.2 | +1.1pp |
| 2007 | 26.1 | +0.3pp |
| 2006 | 25.8 | +0.2pp |
| 2005 | 25.6 | unchanged |
| 2004 | 25.6 | +0.8pp |
| 2003 | 24.8 | +1.1pp |
About this Dataset
South Africa recorded 33.4 % of GDP in 2022. The latest change was -1.2pp. Across 1973–2022 the series ranges from 15.1 in 1973 to 37.8 in 2020.
This page tracks general government expenditure as a share of GDP in South Africa from 1990 to present. The size of government relative to the economy shapes fiscal sustainability, crowding-out effects, and public sector demand.
Data sourced from World Bank via Open Data API. Values use World Bank standardised methodology intended for cross-country comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page tracks general government expenditure as a share of GDP in South Africa from 1990 to present. The size of government relative to the economy shapes fiscal sustainability, crowding-out effects, and public sector demand. It is published by World Bank and updated annually.
The most recent observation covers 2022. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1973–2022 (50 observations).
The series peaked at 37.8 % of GDP in 2020 and reached its lowest recorded value of 15.1 in 1973. The latest reading of 33.4 in 2022 represents a change of -1.2pp.