Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa

South Africa: Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit was -17.77 billion current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
-17.77 billion current US$
Change on year
down 20.9%
World rank
28th
of 29 countries
All-time high
3.08 billion current US$
in 2007
All-time low
-17.77 billion current US$
in 2011
Years of data
12
2000–2011

Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa, 2000–2011

-20.0B-15.0B-10.0B-5.0B05.0B2000200520112000: -2.6B current US$2001: -1.1B current US$2002: -1.8B current US$2003: -4.5B current US$2004: -4.3B current US$2005: -467.5M current US$2006: 2.4B current US$2007: 3.1B current US$2008: -1.9B current US$2009: -14.5B current US$2010: -14.7B current US$2011: -17.8B current US$

Source: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files. Measured in current US$.

Analysis

The most recent figure for fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa is -17.77 billion current US$, measured in 2011. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.

That represents a change of down 20.9% on the previous year and down 1,536.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa peaked at 3.08 billion current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -17.77 billion current US$, in 2011.

That places South Africa 28th out of 29 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit (current US$) in South Africa, 2000 to 2011.
Year current US$ Change
2000 -2.61 billion current US$
2001 -1.09 billion current US$ -58.3%
2002 -1.80 billion current US$ +65.5%
2003 -4.46 billion current US$ +148.3%
2004 -4.30 billion current US$ -3.5%
2005 -467.50 million current US$ -89.1%
2006 2.38 billion current US$ -608.1%
2007 3.08 billion current US$ +29.7%
2008 -1.86 billion current US$ -160.5%
2009 -14.55 billion current US$ +681.3%
2010 -14.70 billion current US$ +1.0%
2011 -17.77 billion current US$ +20.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -2.57 billion current US$ -14.55 billion current US$ 3.08 billion current US$ 10
2010s -16.23 billion current US$ -17.77 billion current US$ -14.70 billion current US$ 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 25 Tunisia -1.72 billion current US$ compare
  2. 26 Nigeria -3.43 billion current US$ compare
  3. 27 Morocco -4.12 billion current US$ compare
  4. 29 Egypt -23.23 billion current US$ compare

See the full ranking of 29 places →

More public sector data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa?
Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa was -17.77 billion current US$ in 2011, according to International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.
What is the highest fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.08 billion current US$ in 2007.
What is the lowest fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -17.77 billion current US$ in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit?
South Africa ranks 28th out of 29 countries with data for 2011.
Is fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 1,536.1%. 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, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, published as part of Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/fiscal-balance-cash-surplus-deficit-current-us/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Fiscal balance, cash surplus/deficit (current US$)
Unit
current US$
Source
International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
29 places, 342 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Cash surplus or deficit is revenue (including grants) minus expense, minus net acquisition of nonfinancial assets. In the 1986 GFS manual nonfinancial assets were included under revenue and expenditure in gross terms. This cash surplus or deficit is closest to the earlier overall budget balance (still missing is lending minus repayments, which are now a financing item under net acquisition of financial assets).