Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) was 1.34 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Subsidies and other transfers in South Africa, 1985–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for subsidies and other transfers in South Africa is 1.34 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 70.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in South Africa peaked at 1.34 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.12 billion current LCU, in 1988.
That places South Africa 37th out of 153 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5.40 billion current LCU | — |
| 1986 | 6.25 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 1987 | 7.29 billion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1988 | 4.12 billion current LCU | -43.4% |
| 1989 | 4.89 billion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1990 | 21.22 billion current LCU | +333.8% |
| 1991 | 25.09 billion current LCU | +18.2% |
| 1992 | 31.27 billion current LCU | +24.6% |
| 1993 | 40.95 billion current LCU | +30.9% |
| 1994 | 57.55 billion current LCU | +40.5% |
| 1995 | 10.16 billion current LCU | -82.3% |
| 1996 | 102.78 billion current LCU | +911.3% |
| 1997 | 107.25 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 117.65 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1999 | 123.36 billion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 136.01 billion current LCU | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 150.89 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 174.00 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 2003 | 201.63 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2004 | 234.85 billion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 266.83 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 317.63 billion current LCU | +19.0% |
| 2007 | 367.92 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 443.66 billion current LCU | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 501.32 billion current LCU | +13.0% |
| 2010 | 534.79 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 612.21 billion current LCU | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 666.50 billion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 743.05 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 786.17 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 867.38 billion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2016 | 892.60 billion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 968.59 billion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 1.06 trillion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 1.06 trillion current LCU | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.19 trillion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 1.17 trillion current LCU | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 1.22 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 1.28 trillion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 1.34 trillion current LCU | +5.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.34 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 139.97 billion current LCU, 9.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.34 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 282.03 billion current LCU, 4.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +911.3% | 10.16 billion current LCU | 102.78 billion current LCU |
| 1990 | +333.8% | 4.89 billion current LCU | 21.22 billion current LCU |
| 1995 | -82.3% | 57.55 billion current LCU | 10.16 billion current LCU |
| 1988 | -43.4% | 7.29 billion current LCU | 4.12 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.59 billion current LCU | 4.12 billion current LCU | 7.29 billion current LCU | 5 |
| 1990s | 63.73 billion current LCU | 10.16 billion current LCU | 123.36 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 279.47 billion current LCU | 136.01 billion current LCU | 501.32 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 818.91 billion current LCU | 534.79 billion current LCU | 1.06 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.24 trillion current LCU | 1.17 trillion current LCU | 1.34 trillion current LCU | 5 |
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 subsidies and other transfers in South Africa?
- Subsidies and other transfers in South Africa was 1.34 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.12 billion current LCU in 1988.
- How does South Africa rank for subsidies and other transfers?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 153 countries with data for 2024.
- Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Subsidies and other transfers (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.