Deficit, Percent of own spending in South Africa

South Africa: Deficit, Percent of own spending was -0.4653 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
-0.4653
Change on year
down 56.4%
World rank
55th
of 66 countries
All-time high
0.0735
in 2007
All-time low
-0.4653
in 2020
Years of data
24
1997–2020

Deficit, Percent of own spending in South Africa, 1997–2020

-0.4-0.2-01997200820201997: -0.2551998: -0.2031999: -0.1252000: -0.1272001: -0.0562002: -0.092003: -0.1832004: -0.1482005: -0.0432006: 0.0372007: 0.0732008: -0.0372009: -0.3072010: -0.3012011: -0.3272012: -0.3052013: -0.2432014: -0.2142015: -0.2212016: -0.1862017: -0.2522018: -0.2632019: -0.2972020: -0.465

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for deficit, percent of own spending in South Africa is -0.4653, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

The figure is down 56.4% on the previous year and down 54.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deficit, percent of own spending in South Africa peaked at 0.0735 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -0.4653, in 2020.

That places South Africa 55th out of 66 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Deficit, Percent of own spending in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government) in South Africa, 1997 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1997 -0.2548
1998 -0.2033 -20.2%
1999 -0.1248 -38.6%
2000 -0.1273 +2.0%
2001 -0.0565 -55.6%
2002 -0.0902 +59.7%
2003 -0.1833 +103.2%
2004 -0.1482 -19.1%
2005 -0.0433 -70.8%
2006 0.0374 -186.4%
2007 0.0735 +96.3%
2008 -0.0365 -149.7%
2009 -0.3072 +740.7%
2010 -0.3008 -2.1%
2011 -0.3269 +8.7%
2012 -0.3054 -6.6%
2013 -0.2434 -20.3%
2014 -0.2141 -12.0%
2015 -0.2212 +3.3%
2016 -0.1862 -15.8%
2017 -0.252 +35.3%
2018 -0.2632 +4.5%
2019 -0.2975 +13.0%
2020 -0.4653 +56.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s -0.1943 -0.2548 -0.1248 3
2000s -0.0882 -0.3072 0.0735 10
2010s -0.2611 -0.3269 -0.1862 10
2020s -0.4653 -0.4653 -0.4653 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 52 Mexico -0.4124 compare
  2. 53 El Salvador -0.4397 compare
  3. 54 Switzerland -0.4467 compare
  4. 56 Colombia -0.4706 compare
  5. 57 North Macedonia -0.4871 compare
  6. 58 Republic of Moldova -0.4902 compare

See the full ranking of 66 places →

More public sector data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is deficit, percent of own spending in South Africa?
Deficit, percent of own spending in South Africa was -0.4653 in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.0735 in 2007.
What is the lowest deficit, percent of own spending recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -0.4653 in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for deficit, percent of own spending?
South Africa ranks 55th out of 66 countries with data for 2020.
Is deficit, percent of own spending rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 54.7%. 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 Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deficit, Percent of own spending in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/deficit-percent-of-own-spending-central-government/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Deficit, Percent of own spending (Central government)
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
66 places, 1,155 data points, 1989–2020
Last refreshed

The Fiscal Decentralization dataset includes fiscal decentralization indicators for a sample of IMF member countries. The following indicators are included in the dataset: Revenue and Expenditure Decentralization Shares; Transfer dependency and Vertical Fiscal Imbalances; Deficit and Debt; Allocation of expenditure (economic classification); Allocation of expenditure (functional classification); Allocation of non-Tax Revenues; and Allocation of Taxes.