Annual government: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa
South Africa: Annual government: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -339,250 National currency in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators in South Africa, 1995–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in National currency.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators in South Africa is -339,250 National currency, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 9.9% on the previous year and down 109.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators in South Africa peaked at 11,626 National currency in 2007 and was at its lowest, -584,851 National currency, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 28th of 36 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual government: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | National currency | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -24,639 National currency | — |
| 1996 | -34,765 National currency | +41.1% |
| 1997 | -39,033 National currency | +12.3% |
| 1998 | -32,301 National currency | -17.2% |
| 1999 | -25,280 National currency | -21.7% |
| 2000 | -31,241 National currency | +23.6% |
| 2001 | -22,029 National currency | -29.5% |
| 2002 | -34,499 National currency | +56.6% |
| 2003 | -49,753 National currency | +44.2% |
| 2004 | -56,692 National currency | +13.9% |
| 2005 | -19,099 National currency | -66.3% |
| 2006 | 8,195 National currency | -142.9% |
| 2007 | 11,626 National currency | +41.9% |
| 2008 | -57,649 National currency | -595.9% |
| 2009 | -108,865 National currency | +88.8% |
| 2010 | -96,087 National currency | -11.7% |
| 2011 | -112,875 National currency | +17.5% |
| 2012 | -143,880 National currency | +27.5% |
| 2013 | -141,798 National currency | -1.4% |
| 2014 | -164,932 National currency | +16.3% |
| 2015 | -162,337 National currency | -1.6% |
| 2016 | -188,478 National currency | +16.1% |
| 2017 | -219,907 National currency | +16.7% |
| 2018 | -195,926 National currency | -10.9% |
| 2019 | -285,735 National currency | +45.8% |
| 2020 | -584,851 National currency | +104.7% |
| 2021 | -414,458 National currency | -29.1% |
| 2022 | -340,337 National currency | -17.9% |
| 2023 | -427,688 National currency | +25.7% |
| 2024 | -376,501 National currency | -12.0% |
| 2025 | -339,250 National currency | -9.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -339,250 National currency is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -5.16 million National currency, 7% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual government: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -595.9% | 11,626 National currency | -57,649 National currency |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -31,204 National currency | -39,033 National currency | -24,639 National currency | 5 |
| 2000s | -36,001 National currency | -108,865 National currency | 11,626 National currency | 10 |
| 2010s | -171,195 National currency | -285,735 National currency | -96,087 National currency | 10 |
| 2020s | -413,848 National currency | -584,851 National currency | -339,250 National currency | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More public sector data for South Africa
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4746 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators in South Africa?
- Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators in South Africa was -339,250 National currency in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11,626 National currency in 2007.
- What is the lowest annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -584,851 National currency in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 36 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 109.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators (Balancing items) — Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table presents the full sequence of non-financial accounts for the General Government sector and its sub-sectors from the production account to the capital account. It shows the balancing items and is designed to be used in conjunction with the tables entitled ‘Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators (Revenue)’ and ‘Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators (Expenditure)’. The presentation is on a country-by-country basis. Users are recommended to select one country (or area) at a time in the ‘Reference area’ filter in order to view the full sequence of non-financial accounts. Alternatively, specific lines within the sequence can be selected using the ‘Transaction’ filter to compare this item for combinations of sectors, countries and time periods. It is also possible to select the government sub-sectors – central, local and state (regional) government and social security funds – using the ‘Institutional sector’ filter.These indicators were presented in the previous dissemination system in the SNA_TABLE12 dataset. See ANA Changes for information on changes in methodology: ANA Changes Explore also the Government Finances and Public Sector Debt webpage: Government Finances and Public Sector Debt webpage OECD statistics contact: STAT.Contact@oecd.org