Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential in South Africa
South Africa: Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential was -4.68 in 2030. ◆ Volatile
Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential in South Africa, 2001–2030
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -4.68 for cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential in 2030.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential in South Africa peaked at 0.669 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -6.57, in 2020.
That places South Africa 75th out of 88 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -0.6505 | — |
| 2002 | -0.6224 | -4.3% |
| 2003 | -1.05 | +68.4% |
| 2004 | -0.7013 | -33.1% |
| 2005 | -0.0301 | -95.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6061 | -2112.6% |
| 2007 | 0.669 | +10.4% |
| 2008 | -1.07 | -259.5% |
| 2009 | -3.5 | +228.5% |
| 2010 | -3.66 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | -3.61 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | -4.01 | +11.1% |
| 2013 | -4.03 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | -3.98 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | -4.16 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | -3.68 | -11.5% |
| 2017 | -4.09 | +11.1% |
| 2018 | -4 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | -5.44 | +35.9% |
| 2020 | -6.57 | +20.7% |
| 2021 | -4.16 | -36.7% |
| 2022 | -4.02 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | -5.66 | +40.6% |
| 2024 | -5.72 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | -5.78 | +1.1% |
| 2026 | -5.65 | -2.3% |
| 2027 | -5.33 | -5.7% |
| 2028 | -5 | -6.2% |
| 2029 | -4.78 | -4.3% |
| 2030 | -4.68 | -2.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -4.68 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.26, 2.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -4.68 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -1.92, 2.4× the median. (7 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2112.6% | -0.0301 | 0.6061 |
| 2008 | -259.5% | 0.669 | -1.07 |
| 2009 | -228.5% | -1.07 | -3.5 |
| 2005 | +95.7% | -0.7013 | -0.0301 |
| 2003 | -68.4% | -0.6224 | -1.05 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -0.7055 | -3.5 | 0.669 | 9 |
| 2010s | -4.07 | -5.44 | -3.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | -5.27 | -6.57 | -4.02 | 10 |
| 2030s | -4.68 | -4.68 | -4.68 | 1 |
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 cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential in South Africa?
- Cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential in South Africa was -4.68 in 2030, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.669 in 2007.
- What is the lowest cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.57 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential?
- South Africa ranks 75th out of 88 countries with data for 2030.
- Is cyclically adjusted balance, general government, percent of potential rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Cyclically adjusted balance, General government, Percent of potential GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fiscal Monitor (FM) 2025 October