South Africa — Central government deficit (% of GDP)
% of GDP · Annual · 1911–2025 · 115 observations
About this series
The central government deficit series records the period's fiscal balance under the source's accounting and sign convention. A deficit indicates a shortfall; the series is a flow, not a debt stock. This series expresses that measure as a percentage of GDP for the matching period.
The central government deficit reading for South Africa was −4.53% of GDP in 2025. The previous reading was −5.11% of GDP in 2024; the period change was +0.57 percentage points. Relative to the selected 10-year average of −5.21% of GDP, the latest reading was above.
Get the full series
- Annual data, 1911–2025
- Quarterly data, 1960–2026
- All 3 sources, downloadable
Latest observations
2003–2025
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | -4.53 % of GDP |
| 2024 | -5.11 % of GDP |
| 2023 | -5.31 % of GDP |
| 2022 | -4.96 % of GDP |
| 2021 | -4.94 % of GDP |
15 earlier values
| 2020 | -9.45 % of GDP |
| 2019 | -5.55 % of GDP |
| 2018 | -4.59 % of GDP |
| 2017 | -4.48 % of GDP |
| 2016 | -3.19 % of GDP |
| 2015 | -3.99 % of GDP |
| 2014 | -3.6 % of GDP |
| 2013 | -3.9 % of GDP |
| 2012 | -4.8 % of GDP |
| 2011 | -5.38 % of GDP |
| 2010 | -4.82 % of GDP |
| 2009 | -4.68 % of GDP |
| 2008 | -0.5 % of GDP |
| 2007 | 1 % of GDP |
| 2006 | 0.53 % of GDP |
Values before 2006, back to 2003, are on the chart — hover to read them.