Tax revenue (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Tax revenue (current LCU) was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.90 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
42nd
of 157 countries
All-time high
1.90 trillion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
2.83 billion current LCU
in 1972
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Tax revenue in South Africa, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tax revenue in South Africa is 1.90 trillion current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 88.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue in South Africa peaked at 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.83 billion current LCU, in 1972.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 157 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tax revenue (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 2.83 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | 3.62 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1974 | 4.36 billion current LCU | +20.6% |
| 1975 | 5.17 billion current LCU | +18.5% |
| 1976 | 5.80 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1977 | 6.75 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1978 | 7.78 billion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 1979 | 9.37 billion current LCU | +20.4% |
| 1980 | 12.39 billion current LCU | +32.3% |
| 1981 | 13.95 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1982 | 16.91 billion current LCU | +21.2% |
| 1983 | 19.24 billion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 1984 | 23.91 billion current LCU | +24.3% |
| 1985 | 29.90 billion current LCU | +25.0% |
| 1986 | 33.72 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1987 | 39.12 billion current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1988 | 49.26 billion current LCU | +25.9% |
| 1989 | 65.72 billion current LCU | +33.4% |
| 1990 | 69.10 billion current LCU | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 78.39 billion current LCU | +13.4% |
| 1992 | 79.13 billion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 95.57 billion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1994 | 106.86 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 1995 | 126.42 billion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1996 | 147.27 billion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1997 | 165.46 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1998 | 185.76 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1999 | 201.43 billion current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 220.91 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2001 | 253.02 billion current LCU | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 283.36 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2003 | 305.42 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 358.56 billion current LCU | +17.4% |
| 2005 | 422.00 billion current LCU | +17.7% |
| 2006 | 501.60 billion current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2007 | 582.14 billion current LCU | +16.1% |
| 2008 | 635.22 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 611.79 billion current LCU | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 688.14 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 761.05 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 832.60 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 921.95 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2014 | 1.01 trillion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 1.11 trillion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 1.18 trillion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 1.26 trillion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 1.34 trillion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 1.40 trillion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 1.29 trillion current LCU | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 1.61 trillion current LCU | +24.5% |
| 2022 | 1.73 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 1.79 trillion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 1.90 trillion current LCU | +6.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.90 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 346.89 billion current LCU, 5.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.90 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 692.11 billion current LCU, 2.7× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.71 billion current LCU | 2.83 billion current LCU | 9.37 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 30.41 billion current LCU | 12.39 billion current LCU | 65.72 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 125.54 billion current LCU | 69.10 billion current LCU | 201.43 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 417.40 billion current LCU | 220.91 billion current LCU | 635.22 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.05 trillion current LCU | 688.14 billion current LCU | 1.40 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 trillion current LCU | 1.29 trillion current LCU | 1.90 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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue in South Africa?
- Tax revenue in South Africa was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest tax revenue recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.90 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest tax revenue recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.83 billion current LCU in 1972.
- How does South Africa rank for tax revenue?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 157 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tax revenue rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 88.4%. 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 Tax revenue (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Taxes are compulsory, unrequited payments, in cash or in kind, made by institutional units to government units. 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.