Subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Subsidies and other transfers was 25.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
25.4%
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
37th
of 40 groups
All-time high
30.5%
in 2010
All-time low
19.6%
in 2018
Years of data
11
2010–2021

Subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2010–2021

01020302010201520212010: 30.5 % of expense2012: 26 % of expense2013: 27.3 % of expense2014: 26.7 % of expense2015: 25.2 % of expense2016: 25.1 % of expense2017: 20.2 % of expense2018: 19.6 % of expense2019: 23.3 % of expense2020: 26.5 % of expense2021: 25.4 % of expense

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

In 2021, subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 25.4%.

The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 30.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 19.6%, in 2018.

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 37th of 40 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.

Subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2010 to 2021.
Year % of expense Change
2010 30.5%
2012 26.0% -14.9%
2013 27.3% +5.0%
2014 26.7% -2.2%
2015 25.2% -5.5%
2016 25.1% -0.6%
2017 20.2% -19.3%
2018 19.6% -3.0%
2019 23.3% +19.1%
2020 26.5% +13.3%
2021 25.4% -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 24.9% 19.6% 30.5% 9
2020s 25.9% 25.4% 26.5% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 34 Latvia 58.2% compare
  2. 35 South Africa 54.8% compare
  3. 36 Portugal 54.8% compare
  4. 37 Greece 54.4% compare
  5. 38 Georgia 54.2% compare
  6. 39 Uruguay 54.1% compare
  7. 40 Tanzania, United Republic of 54.0% compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More public sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa was 25.4% in 2021, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 30.5% in 2010.
What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 19.6% in 2018.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for subsidies and other transfers?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 37th out of 40 groups with data for 2021.
Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Subsidies and other transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/subsidies-and-other-transfers-percent-of-expense/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 4,500 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

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 as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.